Reciprocity norms can promote dishonesty in children

Abstract Individuals sometimes engage in dishonest behavior to help others rather than to benefit themselves. The present research examines whether this form of dishonesty in early childhood can arise from a perceived obligation to reciprocate. Across 7 experimental studies (2023–2025 in China; total N = 527; 258 male; 3- and 5-year-olds; Han nationality), an experimenter asked children to lie to help her cheat in a game. Children were more likely to do so when the experimenter had previously helped them, revealing a reciprocity effect in which lying increased in response to invoked social obligations. By age 5, this effect was robust, even when lying was costly. These findings suggest that reciprocity norms can promote unethical behavior early in development.