The Mediating Role of Emotion between Parental Expectations and Prosocial and Antisocial Behavior 

MARÍA CRISTINA RICHAUD; BELÉN MESURADO

París

Simposio; 28th International Congress of Applied Psychology; 2014

The objective of this study is analyzing the mediating role of two different emotions ?empathy and emotional instability- in the relationship between parental expectations, and prosocial and antisocial behavior. The results showed that perceived parental expectations are not associated with emotional instability in children. This is probably due to children impulsivity that prevents the development of the ability to self regulate and reflect on the expectations that their parents have. Indeed, children that experience emotional instability have intense emotional reactions that can change quickly (Cole, Llera & Pemberton, 2009). However, perceived parental expectations to prosocial behavior are positively associated with empathy, while parental expectations to antisocial behavior are negatively associated with empathy.