PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL CORRELATES OF EMPATHY AND PROSOCIAL BEHAVIORS IN PRESCHOOL-CHILDREN WITH BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS

This study focused on empathic and prosocial orientations in preschool children who vary in externalizing problems. Children were categorize d as low, moderate, or high risk for developing disruptive behavior di sorders, depending on severity of current behavior problems. Hypotheti cal and real encounters with others in distress were used to examine c hildren's affect, behavior, autonomic activity, and social cognitions. When children witnessed someone in distress, empathic concern and pro social behaviors were present at similar levels for all risk groups. H owever, moderate and high-risk children were less able than low-risk c hildren to remain positively engaged with distress victims. Girls show ed more prosocial behavior than boys, and boys showed more anger than girls. During sadness mood inductions to assess autonomic activity, ri sk groups did not differ on heart rate or vagal tone. Girls showed hig her skin conductance than boys, with high-risk girls showing the highe st levels. Higher heart rate (and heart rate deceleration) predicted e mpathic concern and prosocial behavior, whereas lower heart rate was a ssociated with aggression and avoidance, Irrespective of risk. Althoug h biological correlates of emotions and behaviors that reflect caring versus indifference to others' distress are identified, they do not su pport an early direct link to externalizing psychopathologies.