MATERNAL REPORTS OF CONSCIENCE DEVELOPMENT AND TEMPERAMENT IN YOUNG-CHILDREN

Multiple manifestations of emerging conscience, their development, org anization, and links with temperament were studied in 171 21-70-month- old children. A new parental report instrument was designed to measure conscience, with good psychometric qualities and predictive of childr en's behaviors in a laboratory. For most aspects of conscience, the ma jor developmental shifts occurred around age 3. 2 components of early conscience emerged in factor analyses: Affective Discomfort, significa ntly higher for girls, that encompassed guilt, apology, concern about good feelings with the parent following wrongdoing, and empathy with o thers, and Active Moral Regulation/Vigilance, which included confessio n and reparation following wrongdoing, internalization of rules of con duct (self-regulation), and concern about others' wrongdoing. Children 's temperament, assessed by maternal reports, was associated with cons cience. Low impulsivity and high inhibitory control were associated wi th Active Moral Regulation/Vigilance for both sexes and, for girls onl y, also with Affective Discomfort. For girls, temperamental reactivity related positively to Affective Discomfort and negatively to Active M oral Regulation/Vigilance.