The relations of goals, perceptions, and self-efficacy to children's helping behavior

This study investigated the relations between goals, perceptions, self-efficacy and helping behavior in a sample of 109, nine- to twelve-year-old boys and girls. Children were interviewed individually to introduce them to four sets of vignettes which showed a child in distress. Responses to these vignettes were coded according to whether the subject: recognized the relevant cues to detect the child's need for help (perception), chose other-oriented goals, or generally tried to pursue prosocial goals (goals), and believed that s/he could be helpful in the situation, or if s/he had general helping tendencies (self-efficacy). Helping was measured using self-reported responses to the four sets of vignettes, and by teacher and peer ratings.;In addition to determining the relations between children's cognitions and helping, this study also attempted to determine if sex, age, and race affected children's goals, perceptions, and self-efficacy.;Based on previous research, this study assumed that children who process information in a way that allows them to detect subtle, relevant cues, select prosocial goals, and have a strong belief in their ability to help would help more often than children who do not process information in the same way. Also, it was assumed that older children would be more likely than younger children to engage in the cognitive processes which are associated with helping, and that girls would do so more often than boys in non-conflict situations.;Multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine the contribution of the cognitive processes and sex, age, and race to helping behavior. Results indicate that when helping behavior is assessed by teachers and peers, perception, and general prosocial goals are significant independent predictors of helping when controlling for certain background variables. Cognitive processes did not significantly predict helping when it was assessed using self-reports of responses to specific vignettes.