Authors:
Farrant, B. M.; Devine, T. A. J.; Maybery, M. T.; Fletcher, J.
Authors notes:
Infant and Child Development. 2012;21(2):175-88
Keywords:
Cognitive perspective taking, Emotional perspective taking, Empathy, Maternal empathic concern, Prosocial behaviour, Theory of mind
Abstract
The current study analyzed the relationships among maternal empathy (emotional and cognitive), parenting that encourages the child to take the perspective of others, child cognitive empathy and child prosocial behaviour.
Participants were 72 typically developing children (66 Caucasian, six Asian) aged between 47 and 76months (M=61.5months, SD=8.3months). Results support the facilitative effect of parenting that encourages the child to take the perspective of others.
Thus, the role played by parents in the development of prosocial behaviour extends beyond warm/sensitive/responsive parenting in infancy. Together these forms of parenting are key factors that facilitate the development of prosocial behaviour.