親密性が幼児の謝罪効果の認識に与える影響

The purpose of this study was to examine how the intimacy between perpetrators and victims had an influence on enhancing effects of apologies. Participants were 39 four-year-olds, 30 fiveyear-olds, 23 six-year-olds. Results indicated that younger children apologized expecting the stronger effect of apologies on having a forgiveness, mitigating anger, improving bad impression in high intimacy situations than low intimacy ones. In addition, for improving bad impression and forgiveness, five- or six-year-olds recognized the stronger effects of apologies than four-yearolds. But, for avoidance of punishment, there was no relation between the intimacy and the degree in which they recognized effects of apologies. Compared with four-year-olds, six-year-olds understood the role of apologies on avoiding punishment much clearly.