ERIC Number: EJ821611
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Mar
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-1325
EISSN: N/A
Developmental Differences in Prosocial Motives and Behavior in Children from Low-Socioeconomic Status Families
McGrath, Marianne P.; Brown, Bethany C.
Journal of Genetic Psychology, v169 n1 p5-20 Mar 2008
Developmental theories of prosocial reasoning and behavior posit a transition from concrete (e.g., give a toy to receive one) to abstract (e.g., spend time to make someone happy) forms and have been supported with research on middle-socioeconomic status (SES), White samples. The methodology that researchers have used to date has restricted the responses that children can offer. In the present study, 122 Grade 2 and Grade 4 children from low-SES families described different types of motives and behavior and whether a conflict existed between self- and other-serving behaviors. The authors found developmental differences for both abstract and tangible motives that focused on the benefactor of prosocial behavior. Grade 2 girls and Grade 4 boys were the most likely to spontaneously describe a conflict between self- and other-serving behaviors.
Descriptors: Elementary School Students, Socioeconomic Status, Prosocial Behavior, Conflict, Grade 4, Grade 2, Child Development, Behavior Patterns, Gender Differences, Motivation
Heldref Publications. 1319 Eighteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036-1802. Tel: 800-365-9753; Tel: 202-296-6267; Fax: 202-293-6130; e-mail: subscribe@heldref.org; Web site: http://www.heldref.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A