prosocial behaviour Flashcards
what is prosocial behaviour
voluntary behaviour intended to benefit another
what is alturism
prosocial behaviour that is performed for unselfish motives
what have Eisenberg and Fabes suggested about childrens prosocial development
that it increases with age
what have Warneken and Tomasello (2009) suggested about alturism in infants
it is not uncommon
What did Zahn- Waxler find about childrens COMFORTING behaviours over the second year of life
increases
what did Warneken & Tomasello (2006) find about childrens helping behaviour
18 month olds help in simple tasks
chimps also do
= biologically prepared
sharing
communication = sharing info
what did
Liszkowski et al., 2008 find
at 12 months if an infant sees an adult searching for something they will point to tell them where it is
sharing
Moore 2009
drew pics of a classmate they liked, one they didnt like, an unknown child
- the extent to which they share depends on who they are sharing with and what it costs them
- children were more likely to share with a friend and if theres no cost to self when sharing with a stranger
(childrens sharing reflects their assessment of their recipient and cost to themselves)
Warneken and Tomasello (2009) pointed out that even though children do not share all the time…
in comparison to other species it is much higher
what is inequity aversion- task
Blake
sweets and for each child there is a bowl. child on left has two levers.
advantageous - it would benefit them to accept
disadvantageous it would disadvantage them to accept.
Disadvantageous (you have the lever and fewer sweets) with age children become more and more likely to reject the deal
advantageous inequity aversion was more variable- emerging in 3 (canada, usa and uganda) populations later in development.
factors which could influence prosocial behaviour
- biological factors
- socialization in the family and at school
biological
Zahn- Waxler et al (1992)
twin study.
94 MZ twins and 90 DZ twins
reactions to adults distress.
hereditability play some role.
what do Eisenberg and Fabes (1998) suggest about biological factors
childrens temperaments determine how prosocial they are.
if they arent completely overwhelmed
and too inhibiited, then they are more likelt to feel sympathy and help
socialization factor
family - how parents promote prosocial behaviour
- secure attatchment
- modelling empathy, sensitivity and prosocial behaviours
- arranging opportunities to engage in prosocial behaviours - caring for family
- discuss emotions and how behaviours affect others
- constructive and supportive discipline
how does discipline help a child engage in prosocial behaviour
Reasoning- pointing out the consequences - more effective if warm and supportive.
inductive parenting- effective when toddlers with emotional tone- drawing childs attention to consequences.
physical punishment, threats and authoritarian parenting and the use of material rewards are associated with a lack of sympathy and prosocial behaviours.
Warneken and Tomasello (2008) do rewards undermine alturism ?
study where child helps someone, adult responds by:
1. give material reward
2. praise them
3. respond neutrally
2nd phase children were again given oportunity to help but given no reward
children in neutral and praise condition were more likley to help in second phase.
early helping behaviours are intrinsicly motivated not because they want stuff.
Fabes et al (2002) prosocial behaviour in school;
preschoolers exposed to prosocial peers at the start of the year were more prosocial by the end
prosocial behaviour in school
children play with others who are similarly prosocial = reinforcement
prosocial behaviour in school (apicella) hunter gatherers
people tended to live in social networks where the other poeple are about as prosocial as them
prosocial behaviour in school
Smith, Cowie and Blades : peer support system
responsible trained pupil supports another child who is new, learning difficulties, has other needs- helps the child to enagge in more prosocial behaviours
cultural influences
Whiting and Whiting (1975)
observed children 3-11 in 6 countries
Found that cultures where mothers delegated household chores to younger children encourage more prosocial behaviour
whereas those that value individual success = more competitiveness.
What is the challenge of alturism
Natural selection tells us that species evolve because of genetic mutations give rise to different traits,
if only mutations aid survival how could a mutation which costs the individual propogate
what is kin selection
we help others who share genetic material with
BUT doesnt explain why we help strangers
what is reciprocity
around age 3 children start to become more discerning about who should benefit from their kindness
