Adolescents’ Views of Third-Party Vengeful and Reparative Actions

African-, European-, Mexican-, and Native-American adolescents (N = 270) described times they had responded to a peer’s victimization with efforts to repair relationships or avenge the aggression. They provided ratings of self-evaluative emotions and judgements (e.g.., pride, shame, helpfulness) and explanations for each rating. Explanations were coded as exemplifying one of eight goals, and whether the action described in each condition promoted or threatened the desired goal. Complementary analyses utilizing the general linear model and epistemic network examined the rates of each type of goal and the connections between goals, and between goals and outcomes. Benevolence was the most frequently cited goal, and third-party reparative efforts were viewed as promoting benevolence and competence. Benevolence goals were both promoted and threatened by third-party revenge. Self-directed growth was cited most often following revenge, as an example of goal threat and often in conjunction with shame. Relationships between revenge and reparative efforts are explored.