Domains of Socialization and Adolescent Internalization of Prosocial Values

The present study examined the relation between effective parenting behaviours and adolescents' internalization of prosocial values for 41 mother-adolescent dyads. Utilizing a Domains-of-Socialization framework proposed by Grusec and Davidov (2010), we focused specifically on how appropriate parenting behaviours in different domains influenced adolescents’ internalization of prosocial values measured as a function of reasons given for engaging in prosocial behavior. The results indicated that maternal behaviours in the control domain hindered adolescent internalization whereas maternal behaviours in both the mutual reciprocity and protection domains fostered adolescent internalization of prosocial values. Furthermore, since parenting behaviours between domains were, at most, moderately correlated with each other, this would suggest that each of the domains of socialization are composed of relatively unique parenting behaviours with very little overlap. Lastly, maternal and adolescent personality contributed to appropriate parenting behaviours across several domains. The theoretical and practical implicates are discussed.M.A