Longitudinal Stability of and Predictive Relations Between Preschool Children’s Moral Self-Concept and Sharing Behavior

• In Event: Moral and Civic Development Through the Life Span

Abstract

Prosocial behavior, that is, acting in a beneficial way towards others, is essential for the maintenance of an irenic society. Young children engage early on in prosocial behavior, in particular in sharing behavior. Recent research showed that the picture children have of themselves as (im)moral agents (i.e., their moral self-concept [MSC]) is closely connected to their sharing behavior. Yet, the stability of this connection and the MSC itself requires more investigation. In a longitudinal study with N = 500 German preschoolers (Mage_t1 = 60.69 months), we found dynamic changes in these association. Our findings provide important insights into children’s moral and prosocial development.

Authors

• Tina Schiele, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich

• Anna Mues, German Youth Institute

• Natalie Christner, University of Munich

• Markus Paulus, University of Munich

• Astrid Wirth, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich

• Efsun Birtwistle, University of Nottingham

• Frank Niklas, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich