The current investigation tested childhood developmental antecedents of adolescent empathy, self-control, callous-unemotionality, and delinquency, namely difficult temperament, positive socialization experiences, and intelligence; it also tested potential mediation effects of temperament via socialization. Data were collected as part of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Early Child Care and Youth Development Study, which followed N = 1364 children from birth through 15 years (51% female, 80% European American). Early positive socialization (maternal sensitivity, secure attachment, and quality home environment) and temperament variables were assessed from 1 to 36 months, intelligence at age 9, and self-control, empathy, callous-unemotionality, and delinquency at age 15. Based on structural equation modeling hypothesis tests, early positive socialization positively predicted self-control and empathy, and negatively predicted callous-unemotionality and delinquency. Intelligence uniquely and positively predicted empathy. Difficult infant temperament indirectly predicted each of the four traits through early positive socialization. Important research and practical implications are discussed.

目前的调查测试了青少年同理心、自我控制、冷酷无情和犯罪的童年发展前因，即难相处的气质、积极的社会化经历和智力；它还通过社交测试了气质的潜在中介效应。数据是作为国家儿童健康和人类发展研究所幼儿保育和青少年发展研究的一部分收集的，该研究跟踪了从出生到 15 岁的 N = 1364 名儿童（51% 为女性，80% 为欧洲裔美国人）。早期积极社会化（母亲的敏感性、安全依恋和优质的家庭环境）和气质变量在 1 到 36 个月、9 岁时的智力以及 15 岁时的自我控制、同理心、冷酷无情和犯罪行为进行了评估。基于结构方程模型假设检验，早期积极的社会化积极预测自我控制和同理心，消极预测冷酷无情和犯罪。智力独特且积极地预测同理心。困难的婴儿气质通过早期积极的社会化间接预测了这四个特征中的每一个。讨论了重要的研究和实际意义。