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The Moral Self in Formation: Caregiver Emotional Availability and Early Prosocial Behavior Predict Preschoolers' Moral Self-Concept

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Title: The Moral Self in Formation: Caregiver Emotional Availability and Early Prosocial Behavior Predict Preschoolers' Moral Self-Concept
Language: English
Authors: Lena Söldner (ORCID 0000-0002-7720-5990), Markus Paulus
Source: Developmental Psychology. 2026 62(6):1202-1214.
Availability: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 13
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Preschool Children, Moral Development, Self Concept, Prosocial Behavior, Parent Child Relationship, Mothers, Infants, Child Development, Psychological Patterns, Early Experience
DOI: 10.1037/dev0001902
ISSN: 0012-1649
1939-0599
Abstract: During early childhood, children develop a moral self-concept (MSC), reflecting the representation of their own moral behavioral preferences. Little is known about the developmental processes that relate to the emergence of the MSC. This longitudinal study followed participants from infancy to preschool age (n = 99-139; 49%-55% girls, 45%-51% boys, mostly Caucasian). It investigated the relations between the quality of early social interactions, prosocial behaviors, and the development of the MSC. We assessed maternal emotional availability at 1 year of age, children's prosocial behaviors (helping, sharing, comforting) at 3 years of age, and their MSC at 4 years of age. Children's comforting and sharing behavior at 3 years of age, but not their helping behavior, was associated with their MSC development. Interestingly, maternal emotional availability predicted MSC indirectly through its relation to children's comforting behavior, suggesting a mediated pathway. The study highlights developmental trajectories from early social interactions to how children think about their own prosociality.
Abstractor: As Provided
Notes: https://osf.io/yrp5t/?view_only=9a0146d88e424a43acea61f20f1ef100
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1505814
Database: ERIC
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  Data: The Moral Self in Formation: Caregiver Emotional Availability and Early Prosocial Behavior Predict Preschoolers' Moral Self-Concept
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lena+Söldner%22">Lena Söldner</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7720-5990">0000-0002-7720-5990</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Markus+Paulus%22">Markus Paulus</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Developmental+Psychology%22"><i>Developmental Psychology</i></searchLink>. 2026 62(6):1202-1214.
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  Data: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
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  Data: 13
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preschool+Children%22">Preschool Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Moral+Development%22">Moral Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+Concept%22">Self Concept</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Prosocial+Behavior%22">Prosocial Behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Parent+Child+Relationship%22">Parent Child Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mothers%22">Mothers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Infants%22">Infants</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+Development%22">Child Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychological+Patterns%22">Psychological Patterns</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Early+Experience%22">Early Experience</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1037/dev0001902
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  Data: 0012-1649<br />1939-0599
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  Data: During early childhood, children develop a moral self-concept (MSC), reflecting the representation of their own moral behavioral preferences. Little is known about the developmental processes that relate to the emergence of the MSC. This longitudinal study followed participants from infancy to preschool age (n = 99-139; 49%-55% girls, 45%-51% boys, mostly Caucasian). It investigated the relations between the quality of early social interactions, prosocial behaviors, and the development of the MSC. We assessed maternal emotional availability at 1 year of age, children's prosocial behaviors (helping, sharing, comforting) at 3 years of age, and their MSC at 4 years of age. Children's comforting and sharing behavior at 3 years of age, but not their helping behavior, was associated with their MSC development. Interestingly, maternal emotional availability predicted MSC indirectly through its relation to children's comforting behavior, suggesting a mediated pathway. The study highlights developmental trajectories from early social interactions to how children think about their own prosociality.
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  Data: 2026
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        Value: 10.1037/dev0001902
    Languages:
      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 13
        StartPage: 1202
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      – SubjectFull: Preschool Children
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Moral Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Self Concept
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Prosocial Behavior
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Parent Child Relationship
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mothers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Infants
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Child Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological Patterns
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Early Experience
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: The Moral Self in Formation: Caregiver Emotional Availability and Early Prosocial Behavior Predict Preschoolers' Moral Self-Concept
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            NameFull: Lena Söldner
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            NameFull: Markus Paulus
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              Y: 2026
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