Abstract The moral self-concept reflects the view of oneself in terms of moral behavior and has been proposed to predict actual behavior. Theories also suggest emotions and emotion knowledge to predict prosocial behavior, but the interplay between the moral self-concept and emotions is largely unknown. This interplay is especially important to study in middle childhood, a relevant period for the ontogeny of the moral self-concept and when emotions regarding prosocial behavior are suggested to change. The current study explored the nature of the relation between the moral self-concept, prosocial behavior, and consequential emotions (Experiment 1) or anticipated emotions (Experiment 2) regarding prosocial behavior in 5- to 9-year-olds (together N = 169). Moreover, we investigated whether emotions mediate the relation between the moral self-concept and prosocial behavior. Overall, the moral self-concept was positively related to prosocial behavior. In addition, emotional consequences as well as anticipated emotions explained age differences in sharing behavior. Moreover, the results hint to an indirect effect of the moral self-concept on sharing behavior through the anticipation of negative feelings when not-sharing. Interestingly, children who first reflected about the affective consequences of prosocial behavior seemed to share more. In line with theories, the results demonstrate that both the moral self-concept and emotions are relevant motivators of prosocial behavior in middle childhood.

中文翻译：

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情绪理解和道德自我概念作为童年中期亲社会行为的动力

摘要 道德自我概念从道德行为的角度反映了自己的观点，并被提出用来预测实际行为。理论还提出情绪和情绪知识来预测亲社会行为，但道德自我概念和情绪之间的相互作用在很大程度上是未知的。这种相互作用对于童年中期的研究尤为重要，这是道德自我概念个体发育的相关时期，以及有关亲社会行为的情绪被建议改变的时期。目前的研究探讨了道德自我概念、亲社会行为和结果情绪（实验 1）或预期情绪（实验 2）之间关系的性质，这些情绪与 5 至 9 岁儿童的亲社会行为有关（总共 N = 169 ）。而且，我们调查了情绪是否介导了道德自我概念和亲社会行为之间的关系。总体而言，道德自我概念与亲社会行为呈正相关。此外，情绪后果以及预期情绪解释了分享行为的年龄差异。此外，结果暗示道德自我概念通过预期不分享时的负面情绪对分享行为产生间接影响。有趣的是，首先反思亲社会行为的情感后果的儿童似乎分享了更多。与理论一致，结果表明道德自我概念和情绪都是童年中期亲社会行为的相关动机。情绪后果以及预期情绪解释了分享行为的年龄差异。此外，结果暗示道德自我概念通过预期不分享时的负面情绪对分享行为产生间接影响。有趣的是，首先反思亲社会行为的情感后果的儿童似乎分享了更多。与理论一致，结果表明道德自我概念和情绪都是童年中期亲社会行为的相关动机。情绪后果以及预期情绪解释了分享行为的年龄差异。此外，结果暗示道德自我概念通过预期不分享时的负面情绪对分享行为产生间接影响。有趣的是，首先反思亲社会行为的情感后果的儿童似乎分享了更多。与理论一致，结果表明道德自我概念和情绪都是童年中期亲社会行为的相关动机。首先反思亲社会行为的情感后果的儿童似乎分享了更多。与理论一致，结果表明道德自我概念和情绪都是童年中期亲社会行为的相关动机。首先反思亲社会行为的情感后果的儿童似乎分享了更多。与理论一致，结果表明道德自我概念和情绪都是童年中期亲社会行为的相关动机。