Date
8-29-2025
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
Chair
Jamie Clark
Keywords
aggressive behavior, attachment-based caregiving, biblical worldview, bibliotherapy, multiple case study design, prosocial behaviors, social learning theory
Disciplines
Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Recommended Citation
Dorsey, Michelle, "Prosocial Behaviors At Christian Preschools: A Multiple Case Study of the Bibliotherapy Approach" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7376.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7376
Abstract
This multiple case study, conducted virtually at Christian preschools, involved an in-depth investigation into the prosocial behaviors in Christian young children. Moreover, whether prosocial behaviors can be improved when the developmental bibliotherapy approach is used by Christian teachers in the normal course of the school day as well as parents who show parental warmth by reading a book every night and asking their child questions about what was read. Semi-structured interviews and questionnaires were conducted with school leaders and teachers, respectively, to gain insight into their perspectives and experiences as it relates to prosocial behaviors in young children and the use of the bibliotherapy approach. Four research questions guided this study: 1) How do the experiences, perceptions, and assumptions of Christian school leaders, teachers, and parents influence the belief of the necessary utilization of the bibliotherapy approach to improve prosocial behaviors of young children? 2) How do Christian school leaders, teachers, and parents define adequate prosocial behaviors in young children? 3) How do Christian school leaders, teachers, and parents perceive their role in improving prosocial behaviors of young children? 4) How do Christian school leaders, teachers, and parents understand the importance of prosocial behaviors in young children? The six-step thematic analysis process captured themes from the interviews, questionnaires, and archival information. The findings suggest that adequate prosocial behaviors are lacking at Christians preschools and that the developmental bibliotherapy approach can be effective.
