Toddlers have a Strong Sense of Justice: Experiment Shows Infants Inherently Know Right From Wrong

Researchers have demonstrated  that children as young as three know right from wrong and have sense of justice.

 

In experiments in which a puppet 'stole' a biscuit, three and five-year-olds would try to return it to its rightful owner. And they were just as likely to do this whether the biscuit had been taken from themselves or someone else – including another puppet.

 

Dr Keith Jensen, a researcher at Manchester University, said: 'We've not seen this behaviour in children this young before.

The results suggest that rather than punishing young children for hurting others, it might be better for parents to talk to them about the consequences of their actions.

The researchers said: 'It appears that a sense of justice centred on harm caused to victims emerges in early childhood.

 

'The take-home message is that pre-school children are sensitive to harm to others and given a choice would rather restore things to help the victim than punish the perpetrator.

 

'Rather than punish young children for wrong-doings, children might better understand harm done to the victim and restoration as a solution.'

The findings, which came from studies of young children from Germany, offer new insights into the nature of justice itself, the researchers claim.

 

Dr Jensen said: 'The chief implication is that a concern for others, empathy, for example, is a core component of a sense of justice.