Prosocial Behavior in Children

Helping behavior in children is not always about fixing things, but rather about understanding and addressing someone's need.

A type of helping where the action is driven by an understanding of another person's emotions.

Helping that involves a personal cost or sacrifice for the helper.

Helping that involves understanding the needs of others and responding accordingly.

Helping that is offered without relying on someone's ability or willingness to help.

Sharing information that is useful for others.

A type of pointing gesture used to communicate a need or request.

Pointing used to share information or draw attention to something.

The ability to understand and share another person's feelings, often leading to comforting behaviors.

Offering comfort or support to someone who is distressed or upset.

Toddlers are still developing empathy and may not have the cognitive skills to comfort others when they are distressed.

Children at around 18 months old begin to demonstrate empathy by understanding and reacting to the emotional states of others.

Children at the age of 3 years old can understand that not all emotional distress is justified and their empathy responses become more nuanced.

The belief that everyone deserves fair and equal treatment, including in the distribution of resources.

The concept of fairness emerges early, potentially as early as infancy, by observing how resources are distributed.

Sharing involves understanding fairness and distributing resources equitably.

Infants, even before they can talk, seem to think that things should be shared equally. They prefer fair distributions of goods and expect others to share fairly.

While infants may have an understanding of fairness, toddlers often struggle with sharing their own possessions. They may not be ready to let go of their belongings.

When given the chance to distribute resources, 3-year-olds are surprisingly strict in ensuring that everyone receives an equal amount. They prefer strict equality when dividing resources.

Three-year-olds often choose to share with others, even if they don't have to. They show a natural inclination to share. However, this is often limited to situations where sharing doesn't come at a cost to them.

As children get older, particularly between 5 and 9 years old, they become more willing to share resources equally in situations like the 'Dictator Game,' where they can decide how to divide resources between themselves and another person.

While children might understand the idea of sharing, it doesn't always translate into their actions. This gap between knowing and doing can be seen in how children often fail to share even though they understand the concept.

Even at a young age (3 years old), children are willing to share the benefits of their collaborative efforts with others, demonstrating a sense of fairness and cooperation.

Toddlers, even after cooperating with others, might not always immediately share the outcome of their joint efforts. This suggests that sharing is a complex skill that develops over time.

Children naturally display helpful and caring actions from a young age.

Humans seem to be inherently inclined to care about the well-being of others, showing concern even when it requires no effort.

Helping behavior in children is not limited to those they perceive as capable or helpful.

Factors like family, friends, and group membership contribute to the development of prosocial behavior.

Individualistic cultures may focus more on personal needs, while collectivist cultures may emphasize helping others.

The tendency for people to be more willing to help others when they feel good about themselves, such as after receiving praise.

The act of giving something valuable to someone else, even though it might cost you something.

When rewards or incentives, like money, can actually decrease someone's willingness to help others.

The idea that people's behavior is influenced by the possibility of future reciprocation, so they help others hoping for support in return.

A theory suggesting that people are more likely to help those who are closely related to them genetically, to ensure the survival of their shared genes.

Chimpanzees raised in captivity, unlike those in the wild, primarily communicate to get what they want.

Chimpanzees engage in comforting behaviors like kissing, hugging, and grooming, particularly after aggressive interactions. This suggests an understanding of others' distress.

Chimpanzees don't readily share food. Sharing happens only when forced by circumstances like harassment or food that's too big to fully control.

Prosocial behavior involves actions that benefit others, often at some cost to oneself. It's more than just being nice; it implies understanding others' needs and acting to help.

Young children naturally show prosocial behavior, demonstrating an innate desire to help others, even without explicit encouragement or rewards.

The feeling of accomplishing something good for someone else can make us physically feel better. Our body language reflects this positive feeling.

When we offer rewards for helping, we risk undermining the intrinsic desire to help. Children may become more motivated by the reward than the act of helping itself.

The act of helping others is often intrinsically motivating for toddlers. But providing material rewards can decrease their desire to help in the future.