2024 Data (Information)

Age-Related Changes in Information-Seeking Behavior about Morally Relevant Events

Solomon, Larisa Heiphetz; Yonas, Daniel

With age, people increasingly emphasize intent when judging transgressions. However, people often lack information about intent in everyday settings; further, they may wonder about reasons underlying pro-social acts. Three studies investigated 4- to 6-year-olds', 7- to 9-year-olds', and adults' (total n=669, ~50% female, predominantly White) desire for information about why behaviors occurred. In Study 1, older children and adults exhibited more curiosity about transgressions versus pro-social behaviors. Younger children showed weaker preferences to learn about transgressions, versus pro-social behaviors, than did older participants. Age-related differences were driven by older children's greater emphasis on intent, not by expectations regarding future behaviors (Studies 2-3). Thus, older children may target intent-related judgments specifically toward transgressions, and doing so may underlie curiosity about wrongdoing.