Abstract While children generally prefer equal distributions of resources, we know little about the contextual and individual variability in these preferences. The present work examined experimental manipulations and associations between individual differences in empathy and parental teaching of “just world beliefs”, and children's perceptions of, and reactions to, unequal distributions. Children (aged 5–8, N = 96) watched videos of two puppets receiving unequal resources in varying contexts: distribution by one or multiple individuals, crossed with taking the perspective of the advantaged or disadvantaged puppet. Age was positively associated with perceived unfairness. Behavioural reactions to distributions were associated with individual and contextual factors: Greater cognitive empathy and lower teaching of just world beliefs were associated with increased rectification, and children with greater affective empathy favoured the disadvantaged puppet, but these relations only emerged in certain contexts. Findings provide guidance for interventions aimed at promoting morality, suggesting emphasis on behavioural responses to inequality and empathy-training.

中文翻译：

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儿童对不平等的反应：与同理心和父母教育的关联

摘要 虽然儿童通常更喜欢平等分配资源，但我们对这些偏好的上下文和个体差异知之甚少。目前的工作检查了同理心的个体差异和父母对“公正世界信念”的教导之间的实验操作和关联，以及儿童对不平等分布的看法和反应。儿童（5-8 岁，N = 96）观看了两个木偶在不同背景下获得不平等资源的视频：由一个或多个人分配，交叉考虑优势或劣势木偶的观点。年龄与感知的不公平呈正相关。对分布的行为反应与个体和情境因素有关：更强的认知同理心和更低的公正世界信念教学与增加的纠正相关，具有更大情感同理心的孩子偏爱弱势傀儡，但这些关系仅在某些情况下出现。调查结果为旨在促进道德的干预措施提供指导，建议强调对不平等的行为反应和同理心培训。