The goal of this study was to investigate whether children feel an obligation to return a favor by focusing on their justifications. Individual interviews were conducted with 30 children from three age-groups (5-6, 7-8, and 11-12 years). We used a story in which an adult (benefactor) helps a child (beneficiary) and investigated whether the beneficiary should return the favor. Results demonstrated an evolution in the form in which children conceive of the obligation to return a favor: (a) all the 5- to 6-year-olds focused on the consequences to the benefactor; (b) this justification diminshed over time; (c) returning a favor to avoid a negative judgment was the most common explanation given by children aged 7 and older; (d) returning a favor as a moral value appeared solely among 11- to 12-year-olds. This study contributes to the understanding of differences between gratitude and obligation and has implication for educational interventions.
development; moral; gratitude; children
