Psychological Development and Education ›› 2023, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (6): 788-797.doi: 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2023.06.04

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The Relationship between Preschooler’s Executive Function and Aggressive Behavior: The Mediation Effect of Cognitive Empathy

YAN Zhiqiang1,2, ZHOU Ke1, ZENG Xiao3, XU Hui4, ZHU Xiaoqian1, ZHANG Juan3   

  1. 1. Department of Psychology, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081;
    2. Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081;
    3. School of Educational Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081;
    4. Kindergarten, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081
  • Published:2023-11-11

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Abstract: Aggressive behavior of preschoolers is closely related to their executive function, and empathy may be the key to this relationship. Therefore, the purposes of this study are to explore the relationship between executive function and aggressive behavior (study 1); the relationship between its subcomponents and aggressive behavior in preschoolers, and exam the mediating role of empathy in variable relations (study 2). Results showed that preschoolers' aggressive behavior is significantly negatively correlated with their overall executive function, inhibitory control, and working memory. Cognitive empathy played a mediating role in the relationship between overall executive function, inhibitory control, working memory, and aggressive behavior, respectively. The current studies suggest that preschoolers' executive function is the cognitive limiter of their aggressive behavior, and inhibition control and working memory are particularly effective. Executive function might inhibit their aggressive behavior by promoting their cognitive empathy.

Key words: preschooler, executive function, aggressive behavior, empathy, mediation effect

CLC Number: 

  • B844
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