Empathy, Perspective Taking and Prosocial Behaviour: The Importance of Parenting Practices

TLDR

The study examined how maternal emotional and cognitive empathy, parenting that encourages children to adopt others’ perspectives, child cognitive empathy, and child prosocial behavior are interrelated. The analysis involved 72 typically developing children aged 47–76 months (M = 61.5 months, SD = 8.3). Results showed that parenting that encourages perspective taking significantly promotes prosocial behavior, extending beyond warm/sensitive/responsive parenting and underscoring these practices as key facilitators. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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 76 months ( M = 61.5 months, SD = 8.3 months). 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. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.