Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 9, 2026

Using Cholesky Decomposition to Explore Individual Differences in Longitudinal Relations between Reading Skills
06:52

Using Cholesky Decomposition to Explore Individual Differences in Longitudinal Relations between Reading Skills

Published on: September 17, 2019

6.8K

Helping, Sharing, and Comforting in Young Children: Links to Individual Differences in Attachment

Jonathan S Beier1, Jacquelyn T Gross1, Bonnie E Brett1

  • 1University of Maryland, College Park.

Child Development
|June 7, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Childhood attachment quality is linked to helping, sharing, and comforting behaviors. This research explores the multifaceted nature of prosocial development in young children.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Attachment Theory
  • Prosocial Behavior

Background:

  • Attachment theory suggests early caregiving influences children's prosocial behavior.
  • Previous research has not fully addressed the complex nature of prosociality.
  • Understanding these links is crucial for child development research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between child attachment quality and observed prosocial behaviors.
  • To investigate the multifaceted nature of prosociality, including helping, sharing, and comforting.
  • To explore distinct links between attachment and general prosocial dispositions versus specific prosocial abilities.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed attachment quality in 3- to 5-year-old children (N=137).
  • Utilized independent observations to measure helping, sharing, and comforting behaviors.
  • Employed bifactor analyses to differentiate general and specific prosocial components.

Main Results:

  • Childhood attachment quality was significantly associated with all three observed prosocial behaviors.
  • Bifactor analyses indicated distinct links between attachment and general prosocial dispositions.
  • Attachment showed specific associations with helping behaviors and, to a lesser extent, comforting.

Conclusions:

  • Early attachment experiences are foundational to diverse prosocial behaviors in children.
  • Considering the multifaceted nature of prosociality provides a more nuanced understanding of attachment-behavior links.
  • Findings offer new insights into the developmental origins of variation in children's prosociality.

More Related Videos

Profiling Individual Human Embryonic Stem Cells by Quantitative RT-PCR09:03

Profiling Individual Human Embryonic Stem Cells by Quantitative RT-PCR

Published on: May 29, 2014

12.1K
Studying Brain Function in Children Using Magnetoencephalography08:00

Studying Brain Function in Children Using Magnetoencephalography

Published on: April 8, 2019

9.6K

Related Concept Videos

Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood03:34

Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood

Attachment is a long-standing connection or bond with others. While Attachment Theory was conceived in developmental psychology to describe infant-caregiver bonding, it's been extended into adulthood to include romantic relationships. 
50.0K
Attachment01:20

Attachment

Attachment is vital for infant development, as warm social interactions support growth and well-being. In a classic 1958 study by Harry Harlow, the significance of warmth and comfort in forming attachments was examined. Harlow separated newborn monkeys from their mothers and provided two artificial "mothers": one made of cold wire and the other covered in soft cloth. Despite the wire mother offering food, the infant monkeys preferred the comfort of the cloth mother, demonstrating that...
533
Covalently Linked Protein Regulators02:04

Covalently Linked Protein Regulators

Proteins can undergo many types of post-translational modifications, often in response to changes in their environment. These modifications play an important role in the function and stability of these proteins. Covalently linked molecules include functional groups, such as methyl, acetyl, and phosphate groups, and also small proteins, such as ubiquitin. There are around 200 different types of covalent regulators that have been identified.
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein....
9.7K
Attachment Styles01:24

Attachment Styles

Jeffrey Simpson's attachment theory suggests that early caregiver relationships shape lasting patterns of behavior and emotional regulation, known as attachment styles. These patterns are organized along two key dimensions: self-esteem and interpersonal trust. The intersection of these dimensions produces four primary attachment styles that typically persist throughout life and significantly influence how individuals form and maintain relationships.Secure Attachment StyleIndividuals with a...
456
Impact of Individuals on Individuals01:30

Impact of Individuals on Individuals

Human behavior is intricately shaped by social influences that arise from interactions with others in diverse contexts. These influences not only mold beliefs and attitudes but also drive the regulation of behaviors through both direct communication and observational learning. The study of these processes falls within the domain of social psychology, which seeks to understand how individuals are affected by and affect those around them.Mechanisms of Social InfluenceDirect social influence...
403
Electric Potential and Potential Difference01:16

Electric Potential and Potential Difference

Suppose a positive test charge moves away from a positive static charge, then the Coulomb force does positive work, and its electric potential energy decreases. The potential energy per unit charge is defined as the electric potential. The electric potential is independent of the test charge.
When a test charge moves from the initial to the final position, the electric potential difference between those positions is defined as the ratio of the change in the potential energy to the charge on the...
5.7K