Even though Joey suffered—his peers at school teased him for months—he filed a report with the principal’s office when he heard that two of the popular kids at school had cheated on a big exam. Social psychologists would say that, in reporting the students, Joey engaged in

Social psychologists would say that, in reporting the students, Joey engaged in altruistic punishment.

Explanation:

If someone chooses to punish someone else even though such an action will not only bring no benefit to himself but may even bring harm, he is engaging in altruistic punishment. That is the case with Joey in the situation described in the passage. Joey is aware that what the two other kids did is wrong. He also knows that, by reporting them, he will suffer consequences (being teased). Still, he altruistically chooses to sacrifice his own peace to have the cheaters pay for their mistake.