This research was designed to examine age-related and gender-related patterns in the judgments of children and early adolescents about hypothetical behaviors of friends and unfamiliar peers. Thirty-eight children, 43 younger early adolescents, and 31 older early adolescents were presented with eight scenarios that portray an actor whose behavior affects the respondent. Scenarios varied according to the status (friend or unfamiliar peer) and intention (good or neutral) of the actor and the outcome (good or bad) of the actor’s behavior for the respondent. Participants were asked to recall each scenario and to rate the appropriateness of the actor’s behavior in each. Recall both of intentions and of outcomes was associated with ratings. Significant differences in ratings related to actors’status and intentions were found for girls but not for boys. The strongest positive bias toward friends was found in the ratings of younger early adolescent girls.
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