When does Liking Children Lead to Parenthood? Younger Siblings, Implicit Prosocial Power Motivation, and Explicit Love for Children Predict Parenthood across Cultures

Abstract

This study tests the cross-cultural applicability of a developmental pathway model explaining childbearing as behavioral outcome variable. This is done by using the childhood context variables birth order and implicit prosocial power motivation, and explicit love for children in adulthood as predictors. The model assumes that the interactional context of having younger siblings during childhood shapes the development of implicit prosocial motivation which in turn influences the verbalized, explicit articulation of parenting attitudes finally leading to becoming a parent. After examining the data for comparability across three selected cultures from Latin-America, Africa, and Europe, the model was tested via structural equation modelling. Results showed that the model is valid for males as well as females and can be applied in all three cultural samples. These findings point at a universal developmental pathway by specifying contextual and motivational factors leading to parenting behavior. Implications for evolutionary, cross-cultural, and developmental psychology are discussed.