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.