The Impact of Cost Imposition and Inequity Direction on Third-Party Punishment in 4- to 6-Year-Old Children

doi:10.12139/j.1672-0628.2026.02.009

Abstract

Abstract: By using a third-party dictator game paradigm, this study examined how cost imposition (cost-free vs. costly) and inequity direction (disadvantageous vs. advantageous) influence third-party punishment and the role of negative emotions in 4- to 6-year-old children. The results showed that: 1) third-party punishment frequency increased significantly with age; 2) children exhibited significantly higher punishment rates in cost-free conditions than in costly conditions; 3) both punishment behavior and negative emotions were significantly stronger in disadvantageous inequity scenarios than in advantageous inequity scenarios, with negative emotions significantly subsided after punishment. The results indicate that cost imposition and inequity direction have a significant impact on children’s third-party punishment behavior. Children demonstrate both the maintenance of fairness norms and aversion to selfish distributions, with the latter being stronger. Children exhibit negative emotions, and third-party punishment effectively reduces children’s negative emotions.

Key words: children, third-party punishment, cost, inequity direction

摘要： 采用第三方独裁者博弈范式，探究有无代价与不公平方向对4～6岁儿童第三方惩罚的影响及消极情绪的作用。结果发现：(1) 4～6岁儿童第三方惩罚行为随着年龄增长呈现显著上升的趋势；(2)无代价条件下的第三方惩罚行为显著高于有代价条件；(3)不利不公平情境下的第三方惩罚行为及消极情绪均显著高于有利不公平情境，惩罚后消极情绪显著降低。结果表明：有无代价与不公平方向对儿童第三方惩罚行为存在显著影响，儿童同时存在对公平规则的维护和对自私分配的厌恶，且对自私分配的厌恶更强；不公平分配条件下儿童表现出消极情绪，第三方惩罚行为能够有效降低儿童的消极情绪。

关键词: 儿童, 第三方惩罚, 代价, 不公平方向

CLC Number:

B844

ZHANG Xue, LU Yang, LIU Wen. The Impact of Cost Imposition and Inequity Direction on Third-Party Punishment in 4- to 6-Year-Old Children[J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2026, 24(2): 212-219.

张雪, 路杨, 刘文. 有无代价与不公平方向对4～6岁儿童第三方惩罚的影响[J]. 心理与行为研究, 2026, 24(2): 212-219.

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