Ready to Make Nice: Parental Socialization of Young Sons' and Daughters' Prosocial Behaviors With Peers

Abstract

In this study, the authors examined the extent to which maternal and paternal parenting styles, cognitions, and behaviors were associated with young girls' and boys' more compassionate (prototypically feminine) and more agentic (prototypically masculine) prosocial behaviors with peers. Parents of 133 preschool-aged children reported on their authoritative parenting style, attributions for children's prosocial behavior, and responses to children's prosocial behavior. Approximately 6 months later, children's more feminine and more masculine prosocial behaviors were observed during interactions with unfamiliar peers and reported on by their preschool teachers. Boys and girls did not differ in the observed and teacher-reported measures of prosocial behavior. Compared to other parents, fathers of boys were less likely to express affection or respond directly to children's prosocial behavior. Mothers' authoritative style, internal attributions for prosocial behavior, and positive responses to prosocial behavior predicted girls' displays of more feminine prosocial actions and boys' displays of more masculine prosocial actions toward peers. Relations were similar but weaker for fathers' parenting, and after accounting for mother' scores, fathers' scores accounted for unique variance in only one analysis: Teachers reported more masculine prosocial behavior in boys of fathers who discussed prosocial behavior. Overall, the results support a model of parental socialization of sex-typed prosocial behavior and indicate that mothers contribute more strongly than do fathers to both daughters' and sons' prosocial development.

Developmental changes in the relations between inhibitory control and externalizing problems during early childhood

“…After the parents left the playroom, the examiner engaged the children in a series of structured and unstructured activities. After about 40 min, the examiner introduced a novel, interesting toy for the three children to play with together, providing an opportunity for potential conflict around sharing (Special Toy Task; see Hastings, McShane, Parker, & Ladha, 2007, for more details on this procedure). Interactions among the children during the shared toy task were coded for aggressive behaviour, such as hitting, pushing, and refusing to share.…”

Empathy, Perspective Taking and Prosocial Behaviour: The Importance of Parenting Practices

“…Lax parenting is associated with constrained ToM development (Guajardo, Snyder, & Petersen, 2009), whereas warm/sensitive/responsive parenting (Massoff, 2008;Yan-Yan & Biao, 2006) and parenting that encourages children to take the perspective of others (Ruffman, Perner, & Parkin, 1999) facilitate ToM development. Parenting styles have also been found to be related to children's prosocial behaviour (Hastings, McShane, Parker, & Ladha, 2007), with maternal warmth, responsiveness and inductive discipline being associated with higher levels of child prosocial behaviour (Clark & Ladd, 2000;Knafo & Plomin, 2006;Krevans & Gibbs, 1996;McGrath et al, 2003) and punitive parenting practices being associated with lower levels of child prosocial behaviour (Romano, Tremblay, Boulerice, & Swisher, 2005). The findings of longitudinal genetic analyses with twins indicate that empathy and prosocial behaviour increase between the ages of 14 and 36 months (Knafo, Zahn-Waxler, Van Hulle, Robinson, & Rhee, 2008), and that there is a relationship between child empathy (cognitive and emotional) and prosocial behaviour (Knafo et al, 2008).…”

The Influence of Authoritative Parenting During Adolescence on Depressive Symptoms in Young Adulthood: Examining the Mediating Roles of Self-Development and Peer Support

“…The nature of the parent-child relationship (Hastings, McShane, Parker, & Ladha, 2007;Mounts, 2004) influences adolescents' relationships with their peers as well. For example, adolescents from warm, supportive families are more socially competent and report more positive friendships (Lieberman, Doyle, & Markiewicz, 1999).…”