Development of Concern

TITLE: The Development of Concern for Others in Children With Behavior Problems

JOURNAL: Developmental Psychology 2000, Vol. 36, No. 5, 531-546

AUTHORS: Paul D. Hastings and Carolyn Zahn-Waxler, National Institute of Mental Health

Barbara Usher, National Institute of Mental Health

JoAnn Robinson, University of Colorado at Boulder

Dana Bridges, University of Colorado at Boulder

Abstract:

The development of concern for others and externalizing problems were examined in young children with

normative, subclinical, or clinical levels of behavior problems. There were no group differences in

observable concern for others at 4-5 years of.age. Children with clinical behavior problems decreased

significantly in their concern by 6-7 years of age and were reported to have less concern at 6-7 years

by mothers, teachers, and the children themselves, relative to other groups. Boys with clinical problems

were more callous to others' distress at both time points. Girls showed more concern than boys across

risk, time, and measures. Greater concern at 4-5 years predicted decreases in the stability and severity

of externalizing problems by 6-7 years, and greater concern at 6-7 years predicted decreases in the

stability of problems by 9-10 years. Finally, maternal socialization approaches predicted later concerned

responding.