Pre-existing fairness concerns restrict the cultural evolution and generalization of inequitable norms in children

Many social exchanges produce benefits that would not exist otherwise, but anticipating conflicts about how to distribute these can derail exchange and destroy the gains. Coordination norms solve this problem by providing a shared understanding of benefits, such also perpetuate group-level inequality. To examine inequitable evolve culturally whether they generalize from one setting another, we conducted an incentivized lab-in-the-field experiment among kindergarten (5–6) second-grade (8–9) children living in Switzerland (4′228 decisions collected 326 children). In Part 1, created two arbitrarily marked groups, triangles circles. We randomly repeatedly formed pairs with triangle circle, players pair played simple bargaining game which failure agree destroyed gains exchange. At beginning 1 suggested specific way play game. symmetric treatments, suggestion did imply inequality between while asymmetric treatments it did. 2 addressed generalization norms. Retaining their group affiliations each child had resources in-group member out-group member. Children both age groups used our suggestions coordinate 1. followed less consistently, reduced coordination moderated 2, older privilege Rather, compensated underprivileged. Younger neither generalized nor