Children's cognitive appraisal of others' distressful and positive experiences
(2003) In International Journal of Behavioral Development 27(5). p.457-466- Abstract
- The study presents a theoretical model for understanding how children's cognitive processing of empathy-provoking information is linked to vicariously aroused feelings, and to prosocial and aggressive behaviour. Predictions from the model were tested in a cross-sectional sample of second-, fourth-, and sixth-graders (N = 175) and in a large sample of fourth-graders (N = 124). Two significant forms of information processing bias were identified: (a) one that enhances the awareness of potential threats towards the self or others, and (b) one that reduces the emotional significance of the stimuli subjected to processing. Children high in empathy and prosocial behaviour tended to experience moderate levels of threat and to modulate the... (More)
- The study presents a theoretical model for understanding how children's cognitive processing of empathy-provoking information is linked to vicariously aroused feelings, and to prosocial and aggressive behaviour. Predictions from the model were tested in a cross-sectional sample of second-, fourth-, and sixth-graders (N = 175) and in a large sample of fourth-graders (N = 124). Two significant forms of information processing bias were identified: (a) one that enhances the awareness of potential threats towards the self or others, and (b) one that reduces the emotional significance of the stimuli subjected to processing. Children high in empathy and prosocial behaviour tended to experience moderate levels of threat and to modulate the emotional significance of empathy-provoking stimuli through cognitive restructuring. Aggressive children tended to use dismissive operations and typically experienced either very low or very high levels of threat. The oldest children differed from the youngest by using more multiple perspective taking and cognitive restructuring. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/900016
- author
- Bengtsson, Hans LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2003
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- International Journal of Behavioral Development
- volume
- 27
- issue
- 5
- pages
- 457 - 466
- publisher
- SAGE Publications
- external identifiers
-
- wos:000184808600008
- scopus:0041974585
- ISSN
- 1464-0651
- DOI
- 10.1080/01650250344000073
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- c31a1102-8521-4784-bd45-d2b84139026f (old id 900016)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 11:35:47
- date last changed
- 2022-01-26 07:26:15
@article{c31a1102-8521-4784-bd45-d2b84139026f,
abstract = {{The study presents a theoretical model for understanding how children's cognitive processing of empathy-provoking information is linked to vicariously aroused feelings, and to prosocial and aggressive behaviour. Predictions from the model were tested in a cross-sectional sample of second-, fourth-, and sixth-graders (N = 175) and in a large sample of fourth-graders (N = 124). Two significant forms of information processing bias were identified: (a) one that enhances the awareness of potential threats towards the self or others, and (b) one that reduces the emotional significance of the stimuli subjected to processing. Children high in empathy and prosocial behaviour tended to experience moderate levels of threat and to modulate the emotional significance of empathy-provoking stimuli through cognitive restructuring. Aggressive children tended to use dismissive operations and typically experienced either very low or very high levels of threat. The oldest children differed from the youngest by using more multiple perspective taking and cognitive restructuring.}},
author = {{Bengtsson, Hans}},
issn = {{1464-0651}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{5}},
pages = {{457--466}},
publisher = {{SAGE Publications}},
series = {{International Journal of Behavioral Development}},
title = {{Children's cognitive appraisal of others' distressful and positive experiences}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01650250344000073}},
doi = {{10.1080/01650250344000073}},
volume = {{27}},
year = {{2003}},
}