96 Dutch boys of 6, 8, and 10 yr. viewed brief videotaped scenes in which a harm-doer responded to a provoker with either a good intention (to teach the provoker how to do something) or a bad intention (to harm the provoker); the harm-doer's behavior resulted in either minor or serious injury to the provoker. Ss evaluated both the provoker and harm-doer. 8- and 10-yr.-olds expressed greater anger and disapproval when an act led to serious rather than minor consequences whereas 6-yr.-olds did not differentiate their judgments of the harm-doer on the basis of consequences; 6-yr.-olds evaluated the provoker more positively than did the older children.
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