Fairness, or what is seen as just treatment and what’s not, is a culturally-bound word, as the concept and perception of fairness differ by what culture you’re examining. The idea of fairness can be split into two separate categories: disadvantageous inequity aversion ( and advantageous inequity aversion. Disadvantageous inequity aversion occurs when one avoids receiving less than a peer, and advantageous inequity aversion occurs when one avoids receiving more than a peer. Studies on the two have been mostly done in Western societies, and have found that disadvantageous inequity aversion emerges when a child is 4-years-old, and advantageous inequity when a child is 8. In their study, Blake et al. examine the development of both inequity aversions in 866 children aged 4-15 years old from different countries to examine if there any cross-cultural differences exist.

Children in this study played an inequality game with another child in which they were randomly assigned to the disadvantageous or advantageous inequity conditions. Children in the game were randomly assigned to play against a child whose age was similar to theirs and played the game for 16 trials.

Overall, it was found that disadvantageous inequity aversion emerged early in childhood in all 7 countries studied, suggesting that this is a general feature of human behavior. Advantageous inequity aversion was present in only the Western societies and Uganda (Ugandan children frequently interact with Western teachers and researchers) and emerged by late childhood, suggesting that it may be a culturally-bound behavior. Further, the different ages of onset between disadvantageous and advantageous inequity aversion suggests that both may be supported by different psychological processes. Overall, the idea of fairness has cross-cultural differences and similarities as evidenced by Blake et al.

Kylie Robinshaw

Research Assistant, UConn KIDS

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