Abstract

This study investigated how children aged 7–12 (N = 120) infer about intra- and inter-group exclusion. Children heard a scenario in which a child was engaged in a cooperative activity with two peers from either their group or a different group, but then was excluded from future cooperation by the peers. Children's moral evaluations of the exclusion, inferences about the cooperation of the excluded child, and willingness to intervene were assessed. The findings revealed that children, regardless of age, evaluated both exclusions as morally wrong. Children aged 10–12 inferred that the target of intragroup exclusion would be less cooperative than intergroup and were less willing to help in intragroup than intergroup exclusion. These results suggest that children as young as 10–12 years old negatively assess the target of intragroup exclusion and exhibit a lower willingness to intervene compared to intergroup exclusion.