It is suggested that altruism is a multidimensional concept and that in the young child its expression may in part reflect differing levels of cognitive development. (Authors)

Children and adolescents from four social classes were asked to describe rich and poor people and to indicate how the rich and the poor are different from and similar to each other. Responses were classified into three categories of person description: peripheral (possessions, appearances, and behavior), central (traits and thoughts), and…

High and low SES mothers of one- and three-year-old children (N=104) were interviewed. Results showed that low SES mothers believed that infants acquire basic cognitive skills later and that the introduction of cognitively stimulating activities should occur later than did high SES mothers. (JMB)

The relationship between preschoolers' motivation and performance and observed paternal behavior is explored. (JMB)

A four-and-a-half-year longitudinal experiment reconsidered the contribution of organic impairment to the genesis of mild mental retardation among disadvantaged children. It was hypothesized that nonoptimal perinatal conditions might result in deficits that increase a child's vulnerability to environmental risk factors. Study results supported the…

Examined how child care experiences related to cognitive and language development from birth through age 3. Found that care quality was modestly related to cognitive and language outcomes, after adjusting for several factors. Cumulative experience in center-based care related to better outcomes than did experience in other care. Children in…

Differences in racial socialization practices and their effects were examined in a sample of 241 African American 1st graders (average age 6.59 years) living in an urban area. Child outcomes included cognitive development, receptive language skills, and child problem behavior. The cultural environment of the home was associated with higher…