加害者の表情が児童の謝罪の認識に及ぼす効果 : 3種類の表情図を用いて

Abstract

Even if one said "I'm sorry", it was difficult to judge whether the apology by words was sincere or not. This study examined hov the wrongdoer's facial expressions affected the cognition of apology, and how the effect developed during childhood. Two hundred and ten children (First, third, and fifth grade children) were required to read a hypothetical story in which a friend committed a transgression and then employed one of three types of apologies (apology with a no-guilty face, no apology with a guilty face, and apology with a neutral face). Children were then asked to answer some questions; how they felt and whether they thought the friend felt sorry or not. As a result, the biggest grade difference was seen in an apology with no-guilty face conditions. If the friend says "I'm sorry" with a no-guilty face, most of fifth graders would think the friend did not feel sorry and get angry compared to children in other grades. This tendency increases by grade. Furthermore, when children think that the friend would feel sorry, they tend to cool of, and vice versa. These findings imply that the effect of the wrongdoer's facial expression is dependent on children.