Premium
Toddlers Involve Their Caregiver to Help Another Person in Need
Author(s) -
Paulus Markus,
Jung Natalie,
O'Driscoll Kelly,
Moore Chris
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
infancy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.361
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1532-7078
pISSN - 1525-0008
DOI - 10.1111/infa.12173
Subject(s) - toddler , psychology , task (project management) , developmental psychology , object (grammar) , cognitive psychology , social psychology , linguistics , philosophy , management , economics
Three experiments with 18‐ to 35‐month‐old children ( n = 169) studied toddler–caregiver interactions when being confronted with another person in need. In particular, we explored whether toddlers would request their caregiver to help a needy other when they are not able to help themselves. Children observed another person who needed help to accomplish a task, but were either not able to provide help as the object was out of reach (Experiment 1) or because an obstacle prevented children from interacting with the other person (Experiments 2, 2b). The experiments revealed the same developmental trend with 2.5‐year‐olds selectively involving their caregiver to help the needy other. The results are interpreted in terms of toddlers’ motivation to see others helped and with respect to their developing ability to actively involve others to regulate their emotions.