Question 1

Social information-processing theorists (for example, Grusec & Redler) would argue that _____ will foster altruistic behavior, at least among children aged _____ , who are old enough to understand the implications of this treatment.

Accepted Answer

Social information-processing theorists argue that labeling a child as "generous" or "helpful" will shape their self-concept and expectations of themselves in a positive way, leading them to continue exhibiting such behavior. This is especially effective among children aged 8 and older who have a better understanding of social norms and expectations.

Question 2

According to research on the empathy-altruism relationship (e.g., Chapman et al., 1987), empathy may come to mediate altruism once

Accepted Answer

According to research on the empathy-altruism relationship, empathy may come to mediate altruism when the empathizer experiences sympathetic distress over a victim's misfortune, and the empathizer's vicarious arousal causes him to focus on altruistic principles he/she has learned. Therefore, choice (E) is the best option as it includes both empathic distress and vicarious arousal, which are the two components necessary for empathy to mediate altruism.

Question 3

Eisenberg and associates have found that mature prosocial moral reasoners are more likely than immature prosocial moral reasoners to

Accepted Answer

Eisenberg and associates found that mature prosocial moral reasoners are more likely to both help or share with their peers and help someone they dislike if that person truly needs assistance.

Question 4

Volunteerism is a prosocial activity that becomes more frequent in ______ and often reflects the prosocial expectations of _______.

Accepted Answer

Volunteerism tends to increase during adolescence, which is a time when peers have a strong influence on behavior. While parents and teachers may also encourage volunteerism, peer expectations are likely to be more salient during adolescence. Middle childhood is not typically a time when volunteerism increases, although parents may still play a role in encouraging it.

Question 5

According to the "felt responsibility" interpretation of the empathy-altruism relationship, older children may be more inclined than younger ones to feel a personal obligation to assist a person in need because

Accepted Answer

According to the "felt responsibility" interpretation, empathy leads to altruistic behavior when an individual feels a personal responsibility towards helping the other person. As children grow older, they are exposed to more social norms and expectation of altruistic behavior through socialization and learning. Therefore, they may feel a greater personal obligation to assist a person in need, which could be the reason why they are more inclined to engage in altruistic behavior.

Question 6

Zahn-Waxler and associates found that mothers of especially compassionate toddlers were likely to respond to their child's harmdoing with a statement such as

Accepted Answer

Zahn-Waxler and associates found that mothers of especially compassionate toddlers were likely to respond to their child's harmdoing with a statement that describes the harm caused and expresses empathy for the victim, such as "You made Susie cry! You hurt her by pinching her!" Option B is the only choice that fits this description. Option A is too aggressive, option C is too vague, and option D promotes retaliation.

Question 7

Sharing in preschool children has been found to

Accepted Answer

Preschool children are more likely to share when prompted or requested by another child, as they may not spontaneously think to share on their own.

Question 8

If a parent wishes his/her toddler to behave compassionately towards others the parent should

Accepted Answer

Discipline that provides explanations for wrongful behavior and links it to the distress it causes is more effective in promoting compassionate behavior in toddlers than commands or physical sanctions. This allows the child to understand the impact of their behavior on others and may shape their future behavior towards others. Allowing the distressed playmate to harm the child is not an appropriate or effective solution.

Question 9

Toddlers who are less inclined to feel compassion for a distressed companion and more inclined to experience personal distress are those who _____.

Accepted Answer

Toddlers who are behaviorally inhibited or have a fearful temperament are more likely to experience personal distress, which can lead to a lack of compassion and empathy towards distressed companions.

Question 10

We might infer that a proficiency at role-taking causes children to behave more altruistically from observations that

Accepted Answer

The answer of We might infer that a proficiency at...

Question 11

Spontaneous sharing or help-giving is commonly observed among younger preschool children (i.e., 2 ½- 3 ½-year-olds) _____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Spontaneous sharing or help-giving is commonly observed...

Question 12

Working with 5- and with 8-year-olds, Grusec and Redler found that labeling children as "nice" or "helpful" was likely to promote future prosocial acts among _____ because these children _____ .

Accepted Answer

8-year-olds are more likely to incorporate trait-like information into their self-concepts, making labeling more effective for promoting prosocial behavior in this age group.

Question 13

Chondra helps her brother with his homework because she knows her parents will be pleased with her helpful conduct. Chondra's reasoning about helping is reflecting Eisenberg's _____ level of prosocial moral reasoning.

Accepted Answer

Chondra's reasoning about helping is based on seeking approval from her parents, which reflects Eisenberg's stereotyped, approval-oriented level of prosocial moral reasoning.

Question 14

Mickey chooses to work on Saturday to help with the Special Olympics. In his own words, "I believe that the Special Olympics is a most worthy cause and I'd feel horrible if I simply turned my back on the kids and went fishing instead of working." Mickey's justification for helping places him at the _____ level of prosocial moral reasoning.

Accepted Answer

Mickey's reasoning is focused on his internalized values and beliefs about helping others, rather than seeking immediate pleasure (hedonistic), meeting individual needs (needs-oriented), or receiving approval from others (approval-oriented).

Question 15

Empathy is not a good predictor of altruistic behavior for younger children (i.e., age 7 or younger) because these youngsters are likely to

Accepted Answer

Younger children may experience vicarious emotions but may not fully understand the nature of their own emotions or the emotions of others, which can make it difficult for them to translate feelings of empathy into altruistic behavior.

Question 16

Research on sex differences in prosocial conduct clearly indicates that _____ .

Accepted Answer

The answer of Research on sex differences in prosocial conduct...

Question 17

Jane justifies sharing her lunch with a classmate by saying, "Well, she forgot her lunch and doesn't have anything to eat. I don't have to share and wouldn't feel bad not sharing because she should have remembered to bring her lunch. So it's her fault, but she has to eat." Jane would be classified at the _____ level of prosocial moral reasoning.

Accepted Answer

Jane's reasoning is focused on the immediate needs of her classmate rather than on seeking approval, personal gain, or acting out of empathy. She recognizes the classmate's need to eat as more important than the classmate's responsibility for forgetting her lunch, which aligns with needs-oriented reasoning.

Question 18

A good role-taker is likely to be more helpful than a poor role-taker

Accepted Answer

Good role-takers are better at interpreting subtle cues and indirect requests, enabling them to respond to needs that are not explicitly communicated.

Question 19

Parents can promote sympathetic empathic arousal by

Accepted Answer

All of these options promote sympathetic empathic arousal. Modeling empathic concern and explicitly verbalizing their own sympathetic reactions to others can show children the importance of caring for others. Fostering their children's emotional security can also help children develop empathy and compassion for others. By doing all of these, parents can create a supportive environment that encourages feeling sympathy for others.

Question 20

Empathic arousal is likely to promote prosocial behavior if that arousal is

Accepted Answer

Sympathetic empathic arousal, which involves feeling the emotions of others and wanting to alleviate their distress, is more likely to promote prosocial behavior. Self-oriented distress, or personal distress, focuses on one's own uncomfortable feelings and may lead individuals to withdraw or avoid the situation rather than engage in helpful actions.

Quiz 10: Altruism and Moral Development

Social information-processing theorists (for example, Grusec & Redler) would argue that _ will foster altruistic behavior, at least among children aged _ , who are old enough to understand the implications of this treatment.

According to research on the empathy-altruism relationship (e.g., Chapman et al., 1987) , empathy may come to mediate altruism once