Some Equalities Are More Equal Than Others: Quality Equality Emerges Later Than Numerical Equality. Issue 5 (3rd May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sheskin, Mark; Nadal, Amber; Croom, Adam; Mayer, Tanya; Nissel, Jenny; Bloom, Paul
• Is Part Of: Child development. Volume 87:Issue 5(2016:Sep./Oct.)
• Page Start: 1520
• Page End: 1528
• Publication Date: 2016-05-03
• Subjects: Child development -- Periodicals; Child psychology -- Periodicals; Child Development -- Periodicals; Child Development; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Pedicatrics; 305.231
• DOI: 10.1111/cdev.12544
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-3920

Abstract

Abstract : By age 6, children typically share an equal number of resources between themselves and others. However, fairness involves not merely that each person receive an equal number of resources ("numerical equality") but also that each person receive equal quality resources ("quality equality"). In Study 1, children ( N = 87, 3–10 years) typically split four resources "two each" by age 6, but typically monopolized the better two resources until age 10. In Study 2, a new group of 6‐ to 8‐year‐olds ( N = 32) allocated resources to third parties according to quality equality, indicating that children in this age group understand that fairness requires both types of equality.