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Children's Moral Motivation, Sympathy, and Prosocial Behavior |
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| Authors: | Tina Malti Michaela Gummerum Monika Keller Marlis Buchmann |
| Institution: | Harvard University and University of Zurich; University of Plymouth; Max Planck Institute for Human Development; University of Zurich |
| Abstract: | Two studies investigated the role of children's moral motivation and sympathy in prosocial behavior. Study 1 measured other-reported prosocial behavior and self- and other-reported sympathy. Moral motivation was assessed by emotion attributions and moral reasoning following hypothetical transgressions in a representative longitudinal sample of Swiss 6-year-old children ( N = 1,273). Prosocial behavior increased with increasing sympathy, especially if children displayed low moral motivation. Moral motivation and sympathy were also independently related to prosocial behavior. Study 2 extended the findings of Study 1 with a second longitudinal sample of Swiss 6-year-old children ( N = 175) using supplementary measures of prosocial behavior, sympathy, and moral motivation. The results are discussed in regard to the precursors of the moral self in childhood. |
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