Cara Streit

Behaving badly or goodly: is it because I feel guilty, shameful, or sympathetic? Or is it a matter of what I think?

The article provides a brief review of theory and research on the roles of guilt, shame, and sympathy in predicting moral behaviors. Two models are presented and contrasted. The guilt-based model proposes that guilt and shame jointly predict prosocial and aggressive behaviors. In contrast, the sympathy-based model suggests that perspective taking and sympathy are linked to such behaviors. In both models, prosocial moral reasoning is proposed as a possible mediator in these relations. Results from a study of college students suggest support for both models. Moreover, there is evidence that prosocial moral reasoning mediates the relations between these moral emotions and moral behaviors. The implications for the need to incorporate moral emotions and cognitions into existing models of morality are discussed and emphasized.

The structure and correlates of a measure of prosocial moral reasoning in adolescents from Spain

The study was designed to examine the structure and correlates of a measure of prosocial moral reasoning in a sample of young and middle-aged adolescents. Participants were 1,556 students (53% male, M age = 13.12 years, SD = 0.87) from Valencia, Spain, who completed paper-and-pencil measures of prosocial moral reasoning (PROM), empathy, prosocial behaviours, and aggression. As expected, a series of confirmatory factor and structural equation modelling analyses revealed a four-factor solution of the PROM to have the best fit (as compared to alternative models) among Spanish youth (across gender and grade). Moreover, higher level and other-oriented forms of prosocial moral reasoning were generally positively related to empathy and prosocial behaviours, and negatively related to aggression. In contrast, generally, lower level and self-focused modes of prosocial moral reasoning were negatively related to such prosocial tendencies, and positively related to aggression. Discussion focuses on the usefulness of the PROM, its relations to theoretically relevant correlates, and its usefulness to study the development and universality of prosocial moral development.

Rural Latino/a Youth and Parents on the Northern Great Plains: Preliminary Findings from the Latino Youth Care Project (LYCP)

Most research focuses on Latino/a families and youth residing in the US Northeast, the West or Southwest, and the South. However, recent demographic changes reveal substantial increases of Latino/as in the Northern Great Plains region of the United States. This chapter summarizes a research effort aimed at understanding adjustment of Latino/a youth residing in relatively small towns and cities in the Northern Great Plains. A conceptual model that emphasizes the youth ecology, sociocognitive and socioemotive traits, and culture-related stress is proposed, and preliminary findings from an ongoing study are reported. The findings to date suggest tentative support for aspects of the proposed model. Implications of the findings and recommendations for future research direction are discussed.

Negative emotionality and discipline as long-term predictors of behavioral outcomes in African American and European American children.

The present study examined the early parenting and temperament determinants of children’s antisocial and positive behaviors in a low-income, diverse ethno-racial sample. Participants were from the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project, which included 960 European American (initial M age = 15.00 months; 51.2% female) and 880 African American mothers and their children (initial M age = 15.10 months; 49.2% female) followed from 15 months of age to 5th grade. For European American children, findings showed direct and indirect effects (via self-regulation) of early negative emotionality on later behaviors. For African American children, discipline practices in infancy had direct long-term implications for behaviors in 5th grade. Discussion highlights the interplay of parenting, temperament, and culture from infancy to late childhood.

US Latino adolescents’ use of mass media and mediated communication in romantic relationships*

Abstract The present study uses uncertainty reduction theory to analyze how Latino adolescents perceive that mass media influence their conceptions of romantic relationships. In addition, we explore how these adolescents use social media in their romantic relationships. Data are from five focus groups with 44 Latino adolescents (M = 16.39 years old; 59% female) in the US Midwest. Findings indicate that Latino adolescents believe media portray unrealistic ideals of romantic relationships, yet these teens also see the portrayals as ideals to which they should aspire. When it comes to social media, the youth perceived one-to-one mediated communication (e.g. Skype) as beneficial to their romantic relationships, but evaluated one-to-many mediated communication (e.g. Facebook, Instagram) as largely negative. Our findings identify three sources of evidence in the latter context that create relational uncertainty: (1) visual, (2) partner communication, and (3) third-party communication.

Moral Identity Among Low–Socioeconomic Status Adolescents: Stressful Events and Family Relationships Considered:

The current study aimed to examine themes surrounding the moral identity of adolescents from two low-income communities in the United States using qualitative interviews. Based on previous conceptual models, the authors aimed to examine the co-occurrence of themes of morality, stressors, and family processes. Participants were adolescents from the Northeast and Midwest (n = 38; mean age = 15.64; 73.7% female; 23.7% Black, 30.6% Latino, and 47.4% White). The results demonstrated that morality was a salient theme among adolescents. In addition, a subset of adolescents discussed stressors and family processes in conjunction with morality. The discussion will focus on the resiliency of youth living in low-income communities.

Generalizability of a traditional social cognitive model of prosocial behaviors to U.S. Latino/a youth.

Objectives: We hypothesized that parental and peer support, empathy-related traits, and prosocial moral reasoning would positively predict altruistic prosocial behaviors, and negatively predict selfish-motivated prosocial behaviors, in U.S. Latino youth. Method: Three-hundred and 6 U.S. Latina/o adolescents (M age = 15.50 years; SD = .42 years; 46% girls; 81.0% self-identified as U.S. Mexican) from communities in the Northern Great Plains completed measures of parental and peer support, perspective taking and empathic concern, prosocial moral reasoning, and two types of prosocial behaviors. Results: In general, parental support was directly and indirectly related to empathic traits, prosocial moral reasoning, and prosocial behaviors. Peer support was indirectly related to prosocial behaviors via perspective taking, empathic concern, and prosocial moral reasoning. Conclusions: Discussion focuses on the generalizability of traditional models of moral socialization and prosocial development to U.S. Latina/o youth from communities in the Northern Great Plains.

The Roles of Familism and Emotion Reappraisal in the Relations Between Acculturative Stress and Prosocial Behaviors in Latino/a College Students.

Researchers have demonstrated mixed associations between acculturative stress and prosocial behaviors (actions intended to benefit others) among Latino/a adolescents and emerging adults. The current study aimed to examine the relations between acculturative stress and Latino/a young adults’ prosocial behaviors via familism values and emotion reappraisal. Participants were 1,527 Latino/a college students (Mage = 20.35 years, SD = 3.88; 75.2% women) from universities across the United States. The results demonstrated direct and indirect links between acculturative stress and prosocial behaviors. Specifically, acculturative stress was positively related to familism values, which in turn were positively associated with multiple forms of prosocial behaviors. Additionally, emotion reappraisal was positively associated with specific forms of prosocial behaviors. There was also evidence that familism and emotion reappraisals moderated the associations between acculturative stress and specific forms of prosocial behaviors. Discussion focuses on the interplay of culture-related and emotion-regulation processes associated with Latino/a young adults’ positive social outcomes. Investigadores han demostrado relaciones mixtas entre estrés de aculturación y comportamientos prosociales (acciones que benefician a otros) en adolecentes y adultos jóvenes Latino/as. Esta investigación examino las relaciones entre estrés de aculturación y comportamientos prosociales de parte de valores de la familia y reevaluaciones de emociones. Los sujetos eran 1,527 estudiantes universitarios de patrimonio Latino/a (M edad = 20.35 años, SD = 3.88; 75.2% mujeres) en universidades en los Estados Unidos. Los resultados demostraron asociaciones directas y indirectas entre estrés de aculturación y comportamientos prosociales. Específicamente, estrés de aculturación estaba asociado positivamente con varias formas de comportamientos prosociales. Además, reevaluaciones de emociones estaba relacionado positivamente con especificas formas de comportamientos prosociales. Había también evidencia que valores de la familia y reevaluaciones de emociones moderaron las asociaciones entre estrés de aculturación y especificas formas de comportamientos prosociales. La discusión se enfoca en la interacción de procesos culturales y regulación de emociones asociadas con los éxitos sociales positivos en adultos jóvenes Latino/as.

Mexican American college students’ perceptions of youth success.

Given the recent research agenda focused on positive youth development (PYD), it is important to consider PYD from the perspective of young people. Using qualitative data collected from open-ended responses, 141 Mexican American college students (Ages 18–22; 81.6% female; 84.2% U.S.-born) reported on their perceptions of the definition of youth success and ideas about what contributes to youth success. We conducted inductive thematic analysis and found that Mexican American college students identified definitions of success related to 3 themes: academic (e.g., school success), individual (e.g., personal qualities), and social (e.g., positive family relationships) factors. Further, factors relating to the individual (e.g., school involvement), relationships (e.g., supportive family), and the environment (e.g., resource availability) emerged as important contributors to youth success. Academic success, youths’ personal qualities, and positive and supportive family relationships and friendships were of particular importance to Mexican American college students’ perspectives on definitions of youth success and contributors to youth success. Debido a la reciente agenda de investigación enfocada en el desarrollo positivo de la juventud (DPJ), es importante considerar el DPJ desde la perspectiva de los jóvenes. Utilizando datos cualitativos recabados mediante las respuestas de preguntas abiertas de 141 estudiantes universitarios México-Americanos (de 18–22 años de edad; 81.6% mujeres; 84.2% nacidos en Estados Unidos), investigamos las percepciones de estudiantes universitarios sobre la definición del éxito juvenil y sobre sus ideas acerca de lo que contribuye al éxito juvenil. Utilizando un análisis temático inductivo, encontramos que los estudiantes universitarios México-Americanos identificaron definiciones de éxito relacionadas a tres temas: a factores académicos (por ejemplo, éxito escolar), individuales (por ejemplo, cualidades personales) y sociales (por ejemplo, relaciones familiares positivas). Además, hubieron factores relacionados con el individuo (por ejemplo, participación en la escuela), con sus familiares y amigos (por ejemplo, recibir apoyo de la familia), y con el ambiente (por ejemplo, disponibilidad de recursos) que surgieron como contribuyentes importantes al éxito juvenil. El éxito académico, las cualidades personales de los jóvenes, y las relaciones positivas con familiares y amigos fueron de mayor importancia en las perspectivas de los estudiantes universitarios México-Americanos sobre sus definiciones del éxito juvenil y sobre los contribuyentes al éxito juvenil.

Family Members’ Relationship Qualities and Prosocial Behaviors in U.S. Mexican Young Adults: The Roles of Familism and Ethnic Identity Resolution:

Scholars have asserted that family relationships may have a prominent role in fostering prosocial behaviors. However, there is limited research on the quality of relationships with fathers and siblings in predicting prosocial behaviors, particularly in U.S. Mexican samples. Furthermore, culture-related mechanisms are rarely considered in examining these relations. The present study examines the associations between family relationship quality and U.S. Mexican young adults’ prosocial behaviors. Participants included 186 U.S. Mexican young adults who completed measures of parental acceptance, sibling intimacy, familism values, ethnic identity resolution, and prosocial behaviors. Relationship quality was positively associated with greater endorsement of familism values. In turn, familism values were positively associated with ethnic identity resolution, and ethnic identity resolution was associated with multiple forms of prosocial behaviors. These results highlight the importance of examining multiple sources of socialization and culture-related processes as mechanisms that may predict positive social outcomes in U.S. Mexican young adults.