title: Moral judgment and its relation to second-order theory of mind.
abstract: Recent research indicates that moral judgment and 1st-order theory of mind abilities are related. What is not known, however, is how 2nd-order theory of mind is related to moral judgment. In the present study, we extended previous findings by administering a morally relevant theory of mind task (an accidental transgressor) to 4- to 7-year-old Chinese children (N = 79) and analyzing connections with 2nd-order theory of mind understanding. Using hierarchical multiple regression analyses, we found that above and beyond age, children's 1st-order theory of mind and 2nd-order theory of mind each significantly and uniquely contributed to children's moral evaluations of the intention in the accidental transgression. These findings highlight the important roles that 1st- and 2nd-order theory of mind play in leading children to make appropriate moral judgments based on an actor's intention in a social situation.
authors.affiliation: School of Preschool Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University.
authors.forename: Genyue
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: School of Preschool Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University.
authors.forename: Wen S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, University of Maryland.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Killen
authors.affiliation: School of Preschool Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University.
authors.forename: Kang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D008297:Male; D009014:Morals; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D056345:Theory of Mind