Application: Prosocial (LEC)

Question 1

An infant starts crying upon hearing another baby cry. Which of the following is the most likely explanation for this behavior?

a) True altruism

b) Empathy due to role-taking skills

c) Emotional contagion through classical conditioning

d) Spontaneous internalized altruism

Answer 1

c) Emotional contagion through classical conditioning

Question 2

During a preschool playgroup, a child shares their toy only after being asked by a teacher. This behavior is most consistent with:

a) Empathic altruism

b) Reciprocity prompted by external encouragement

c) Internalized altruism

d) Spontaneous prosocial behavior

Answer 2

b) Reciprocity prompted by external encouragement

Question 3

In Rosenhan’s study, younger children demonstrated obedience-based altruism. Which of the following best describes their motivation?

a) Internalized moral values

b) Intrinsic concern for others

c) External motivations based on adult expectations

d) Spontaneous contributions

Answer 3

c) External motivations based on adult expectations

Question 4

A group of 6-year-olds observes an adult donating to charity. According to Midlarsky & Bryan’s research, how likely are these children to engage in prosocial behavior compared to a group that did not observe the donation?

a) Less likely

b) Equally likely

c) More likely

d) Not enough information to determine

Answer 4

c) More likely

Question 5

In Grusec & Redler’s study, 8-year-old children were praised as “helpful people” after donating candy. What was the observed effect on their behavior?

a) Increased likelihood of sharing pencils with others

b) Decreased likelihood of donating in the future

c) No effect on sharing pencils

d) Increased reliance on external rewards

Answer 5

a) Increased likelihood of sharing pencils with others

Question 6

A teacher encourages children to take the perspective of a homeless person needing food. Ianotti’s research suggests this approach is most effective for:

a) 6-year-olds, leading to increased candy donations

b) 9-year-olds, leading to increased empathy

c) Both 6- and 9-year-olds, improving sharing and helping equally

d) Neither 6- nor 9-year-olds, as role-taking does not affect prosocial behavior

Answer 6

a) 6-year-olds, leading to increased candy donations

Question 7

In Zahn-Waxler’s study, mothers of highly compassionate toddlers were more likely to:

a) Use physical punishment to correct their child’s behavior

b) Provide affective explanations about the consequences of actions

c) Use unexplained prohibitions to stop undesirable behavior

d) Encourage prosocial behavior through external rewards

Answer 7

b) Provide affective explanations about the consequences of actions

Question 8

A 5-year-old shares their snack without being asked, but they appear proud when praised by their parent. This behavior most likely reflects:

a) Internalized altruism
b) Affective intrinsic reward
c) Extrinsic motivation for approval
d) Spontaneous empathy

Answer 8

c) Extrinsic motivation for approval

Question 9

A study finds that children exposed to verbal teaching about the importance of helping others are more likely to share. Which strategy does this illustrate?

a) Modeling
b) Attribution
c) Role-taking improvement
d) Verbal teaching

Answer 9

d) Verbal teaching

Question 10

Which of the following strategies would be most effective in fostering long-term intrinsic prosocial tendencies in children?

a) Giving rewards for sharing behaviors

b) Modeling altruistic actions without explanations

c) Providing affective explanations of the emotional impact of their actions

d) Using physical discipline to deter antisocial behavior

Answer 10

c) Providing affective explanations of the emotional impact of their actions

Providing affective explanations involves helping children understand the emotional consequences of their actions on others. This approach nurtures empathy and encourages intrinsic motivation for prosocial behavior by fostering an internal sense of responsibility and understanding.

Question 11

A parent tells their child, “You donated your toy because you’re a kind and helpful person.” According to Grusec & Redler, this is an example of:

a) Praise without attribution
b) Affective intrinsic reward
c) Attribution-based encouragement
d) Verbal teaching

Answer 11

c) Attribution-based encouragement

Question 12

A teacher rewards children with stickers when they help clean up the classroom. According to research on encouraging prosocial behavior, what is a potential drawback of this approach?

a) It fosters internalized altruism.

b) It may lead children to only help when rewards are given.

c) It encourages intrinsic emotional satisfaction.

d) It is more effective than affective explanations in the long term.

Answer 12

b) It may lead children to only help when rewards are given.

Question 13

A parent models donating to charity without expecting recognition. Midlarsky & Bryan’s research suggests this strategy is effective because:

a) Children are more likely to mimic prosocial behavior they observe.

b) Rewards are not required for long-term prosocial development.

c) Verbal teaching is unnecessary when modeling occurs.

d) Children prefer observing silent actions over verbal instructions.

Answer 13

a) Children are more likely to mimic prosocial behavior they observe.

Question 14

A parent explains to their child, “When you helped your friend, it made them feel happy because they needed help.” According to Zahn-Waxler’s findings, what is this strategy most likely promoting?

a) Prosocial behavior through intrinsic rewards

b) Emotional understanding and long-term prosocial tendencies

c) Antisocial behavior through unclear expectations

d) External motivation based on approval

Answer 14

b) Emotional understanding and long-term prosocial tendencies

Question 15

According to Midlarsky & Bryan’s study, which of the following strategies is most likely to increase a child’s likelihood of donating to charity?

a) Praising the child for their donation

b) Observing an adult donate to charity

c) Providing a material reward for donating

d) Explaining why donating is unnecessary

Answer 15

b) Observing an adult donate to charity

Question 16

A child is told, “You must be a generous person since you donated your candy to others.” This statement is most likely to:

a) Foster an intrinsic prosocial identity

b) Promote external motivations for future actions

c) Decrease their likelihood of helping in the future

d) Encourage spontaneous empathy without reinforcement

Answer 16

a) Foster an intrinsic prosocial identity

Question 17

A teacher tells a student, “You shared your supplies because you’re such a generous and thoughtful person.” According to Grusec & Redler’s findings, this is an example of:

a) Modeling prosocial behavior

b) Attribution-based encouragement

c) Praise for behavior without attribution

d) Extrinsic reward for prosocial behavior

Answer 17

b) Attribution-based encouragement

Question 18

A parent says to their child, “You’re such a kind person for helping your sibling clean up.” Research on attributions suggests this statement is most likely to:

a) Increase the child’s prosocial actions in unrelated situations

b) Decrease the child’s reliance on external rewards

c) Foster antisocial behaviors in the absence of praise

d) Encourage the child to seek recognition for their actions

Answer 18

a) Increase the child’s prosocial actions in unrelated situations

By attributing the action to an internal characteristic—being a “kind person”—the child begins to see themselves as someone who behaves in a kind and helpful way.

Question 19

In Grusec & Redler’s study, 8-year-olds who were told they were helpful after donating were more likely to:

a) Share their pencils with a classmate later

b) Require external rewards for future prosocial behavior

c) Stop donating when the praise stopped

d) Engage in prosocial behaviors only when prompted

Answer 19

a) Share their pencils with a classmate later

Question 20

Which of the following statements reflects an attribution-based strategy to encourage prosocial behavior?

a) “Great job donating to the food drive!”

b) “You’re really generous for thinking of others and donating.”

c) “Here’s a sticker for your contribution to the food drive.”

d) “Donating is a good thing to do because it helps others.”

Answer 20

b) “You’re really generous for thinking of others and donating.”

This statement represents an attribution-based strategy because it ties the child’s specific action (donating) to a positive personality trait (generosity). By attributing the behavior to a desirable characteristic, the child is encouraged to see themselves as someone who is generous and thoughtful, fostering a prosocial self-concept.

Research (e.g., Grusec & Redler’s study) shows that children who receive attribution-based encouragement are more likely to generalize their prosocial actions to new situations. For instance, a child who is told they are generous might later share their pencils or help a peer, even without prompts.

Question 21

In a study on attributions, children who were told they were “helpful” after donating were more likely to engage in which type of behavior later?

a) Helping peers without being prompted

b) Avoiding opportunities to share

c) Expecting a reward for their actions

d) Seeking external validation before acting

Answer 21

a) Helping peers without being prompted

Question 22

Prosocial behavior is best defined as

a) behavior based on personal benefit.
b) voluntary behavior intended to benefit another.
c) actions that contribute to society as a whole.
d) behavior intended to win approval.

Answer 22

b) voluntary behavior intended to benefit another.

Question 23

Jaden is playing with a toy car. Sam comes over and takes it from her, which makes Jaden sad. Omar watches this happen and feels sad as well. Omar is displaying what kind of emotional response?

a) Sympathy
b) Prosocial behavior
c) Altruism
d) Empathy

Answer 23

d) Empathy

Question 24

Cooperation is a form of prosocial behavior that may be driven by both sympathy and a child’s sense of

a) shame.
b) empathy.
c) fairness.
d) justice.

Answer 24

c) fairness.