The Relationship Between Psychological Understanding and Positive Social Behaviors

This research investigates the relationship between psychological understanding and positive social behavior in preschool children. A sample of 67 children were given measures of mental state understanding and emotion understanding. Positive social behavior was measured by classroom observation, tea...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Social development (Oxford, England) England), 2003-01, Vol.12 (2), p.198-221
Main Authors: Cassidy, Kimberly Wright, Werner, Rebecca Stetson, Rourke, Mary, Zubernis, Lynn S., Balaraman, Geetha
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
affective perspective taking
Cognitive Development
Deception
Emotional Expression
Empathy
False Beliefs
Interpersonal Competence
Language Skills
Likability
Observation
Peer Relationship
Perspective Taking
Popularity
Predictor Variables
Preschool Children
preschoolers
Prosocial Behavior
Social Behavior
Social behaviour
Social Cognition
Social skills
Theory of Mind
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Summary:This research investigates the relationship between psychological understanding and positive social behavior in preschool children. A sample of 67 children were given measures of mental state understanding and emotion understanding. Positive social behavior was measured by classroom observation, teacher report and peer ratings. Both mental state understanding and emotion understanding were positively related to teacher ratings of social skills, behavioral observers’ global ratings of social skills and peer popularity. When language ability was partialled out of these relationships, many of the significant correlations disappeared; however, for variables related to peers’ perceptions, psychological understanding continued to predict unique variance. The results are discussed in terms of the multiple determinacy of positive social behaviors and the potential role of language in these processes.
ISSN:0961-205X
1467-9507
DOI:10.1111/1467-9507.00229