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Empathetic Understanding and Preschoolers' Consideration for Others

Research Project

Project/Area Number 13610175
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field 教育・社会系心理学
Research InstitutionKansai University of Welfare Sciences

Principal Investigator

KAMESHIMA Shinya  Kansai University of Welfare Sciences, Department of Social Welfare, Ph.D., Professor, 社会福祉学部, 教授 (90241108)

Project Period (FY) 2001 – 2003
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2003)
Budget Amount *help
¥3,200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,200,000)
Fiscal Year 2003: ¥400,000 (Direct Cost: ¥400,000)
Fiscal Year 2002: ¥600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000)
Fiscal Year 2001: ¥2,200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,200,000)
Keywordsempathy / behavioral analysis / interpersonal behavior / preschool education
Research Abstract

The study investigated the empathic understanding of preschoolers. The means of data collection included survey reports by the preschoolers' caretakers and teachers, and systematic behavioral observation.
The participants consisted of 110 caretakers of preschool children between the ages of three and four years old. The survey aimed to examine the developmental changes from the third and fourth years of age. The results of the data analysis from the survey indicated that the caretakers reported the higher level of empathic understanding of the child compared to the preschool teachers' report. Reports by the caretakers of the four-year-olds showed the higher level of empathic understanding in the affective domain for the girls compared to the boys. Reports by the teachers indicated the higher level of empathic understanding in the behavioral domain.
The level of empathic understanding reported by the survey was examined through the behavioral observations in a kindergarten. The settings in which the behavioral observations took place consisted of "unstructured peer interaction (free-play setting)" and "drawing with peer." The latter was an experimental setting which instigated a mild level of stressful encounter with a peer using his/her own clayons. The results of the behavioral analysis did not show any relationships between the caretakers' reports on the children's empathic understanding and their actual empathic behaviors. However the survey by the teachers revealed that the higher level of empathic understanding was reported for the children who showed the low activity level through behavioral observation.
In summary, the findings suggested that the caretakers and the teachers held different perspectives regarding the preschool children's empathic understanding. The caretakers focused on the affective aspect while the teachers emphasized the behavioral aspect.

Report

(4 results)
  • 2003 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report Summary
  • 2002 Annual Research Report
  • 2001 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (2 results)

All Other

All Publications (2 results)

  • [Publications] 亀島信也: "幼児の共感性の発達的変化:(1)親と教師の評定者間の差"日本発達心理学会第14回大会 発表論文集. 26-26 (2003)

    • Related Report
      2002 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] 西元直美: "幼児の共感性の発達的変化:(2)自由/設定場面での行動"日本発達心理学会第14回大会 発表論文集. 27-27 (2003)

    • Related Report
      2002 Annual Research Report

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Published: 2001-04-01   Modified: 2016-04-21  

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