ERIC Number: EJ1367523
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023-Mar
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1082-3301
EISSN: EISSN-1573-1707
Head Start Children's Moral Reasoning Predicts Aggressive Forms and Functions
Baker, Erin Ruth; Huang, Rong; Battista, Carmela; Liu, Qingyang
Early Childhood Education Journal, v51 n3 p443-455 Mar 2023
This short-term longitudinal study examined how economically-impoverished children's moral reasoning predicts specific aggressive subtypes. Children (N = 106, M[subscript age] = 52.78 months, 51% boys, ethnically diverse backgrounds) from urban Head Start programs completed a structured story-interview pertaining to moral reasoning and judgement of accidental harm. Six months later, teachers reported children's aggressive forms and functions. Findings support that impoverished children in some ways follow similar patterns as more affluent children, yet diverge in important, ecologically-relevant ways. Use of psychological harm reasoning strategies corresponded with less reactive aggression, and use of rule adherence strategies corresponded with less physical-proactive aggression. Findings suggest that conventional reasoning and care-oriented reasoning may work as a buffer to reduce specific aggressive behaviors for impoverished preschool children.
Descriptors: Social Services, Federal Programs, Young Children, Moral Development, Thinking Skills, Predictor Variables, Aggression, Behavior Problems, Student Behavior, Poverty, Economically Disadvantaged
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2123/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Laws, Policies, & Programs: Head Start
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A