Children's Sympathy, Guilt, and Moral Reasoning in Helping, Cooperation, and Sharing: A 6‐Year Longitudinal Study. Issue 6 (7th November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Malti, Tina; Ongley, Sophia F.; Peplak, Joanna; Chaparro, Maria P.; Buchmann, Marlis; Zuffianò, Antonio; Cui, Lixian
• Is Part Of: Child development. Volume 87:Issue 6(2016:Nov./Dec.)
• Page Start: 1783
• Page End: 1795
• Publication Date: 2016-11-07
• Subjects: Child development -- Periodicals; Child psychology -- Periodicals; Child Development -- Periodicals; Child Development; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Pedicatrics; 305.231
• DOI: 10.1111/cdev.12632
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-3920

Abstract

Abstract : This study examined the role of sympathy, guilt, and moral reasoning in helping, cooperation, and sharing in a 6‐year, three‐wave longitudinal study involving 175 children ( M age 6.10, 9.18, and 12.18 years). Primary caregivers reported on children's helping and cooperation; sharing was assessed behaviorally. Child sympathy was assessed by self‐ and teacher reports, and self‐attributed feelings of guilt–sadness and moral reasoning were assessed by children's responses to transgression vignettes. Sympathy predicted helping, cooperation, and sharing. Guilt–sadness and moral reasoning interacted with sympathy in predicting helping and cooperation; both sympathy and guilt–sadness were associated with the development of sharing. The findings are discussed in relation to the emergence of differential motivational pathways to helping, cooperation, and sharing.