RESEARCH PROJECT

This research study examines the early origins of compassionate love in young children. The research focuses on compassionate behavior in early toddlerhood and its relationship to the development of conscience. Fetzer funds supplement those for a National Institute on Child Health and Human Development study that examines 170 families and children up to 18 months old, and assesses family and child functioning and the early origins of compassionate behaviors. This long-term research is scheduled to end in 2010.

The overall aims of the research study are to

• Examine early compassionate behavior in 18-month-old toddlers and their older siblings by focusing on cooperative sibling play, empathy, concern for others’ distress, sharing, and the development of conscience
• Address the concurrent associations between family relationship functioning (e.g., mother-child, father-child, and sibling relationships) and the emergence of young children’s compassionate behavior and conscience
• Predict 18-month-old children’s compassionate behavior and conscience development from early indicators of family functioning and socio-emotional development in infancy.

The work builds on the most promising research arising from Fetzer’s overall support of research into compassionate love, especially support of rigorous inquiries into early childhood development, to inform training and educational programs and support other program efforts in the development of the human capacity for love and compassion.

Related Papers
Groenendyk, A., Volling, B., (2007). Coparenting and Early Conscience: Development in the Family. The Journal of Genetic Psychology, 168 (2), 201-224.

Kolak, A., Volling,B., (2007). Parental Expressiveness as a Moderator of Coparenting and Marital Relationship Quality. Family Relations, 56, 467-478.

Blandon, A., Volling, B., (2008). Parental Gentle Guidance and Children’s Compliance Within the Family: A Replication Study. Journal of Family Psychology, 22 (3), 355-366.