Prosocial development

Question 1

Prosocial behaviour vs altruism

Answer 1

prosocial behaviour: action that benefits others

altruism: prosocial action that occurs at a net cost to the actor

Question 2

Cognitive developmental theory of prosocial behaviour

Answer 2

stage theory
<7: less likely to share
primary school: motivated by welfare of others
adolescence: motivated by moral fairness and reciprocity

Question 3

Parenting and prosocial effects (Zhou et al)

Answer 3

empathy

• empathy for positive emotions // more aggression (link with jealousy?)
• empathy for negative emotions // less aggression

focusing on others good fortune decreases propensity for prosocialness

Parental warmth // secure attachment // empathy

Question 4

Empathy vs role taking

Answer 4

Empathy: reacting to and feeling what another person is feeling

Role taking: comprehending what another person is feeling (more cognitive component)

Question 5

Prosocialness and aggression (Caprara et al)

Answer 5

Path to peer acceptance was through prosocial behaviour

discouraging antisocial behaviour does not encourage prosocial behaviour

Question 6

School based intervention (Caprara et al)

Answer 6

1. sensitisation to prosocial values
2. emotional regulation skills
3. perspective-taking skills
4. interpersonal communication skills

increased prosocial behaviour
decreased antisocial behaviour
increased academic achievement