The Development of Prosocial Behavior

Abstract

review research on prosocial behavior, from a developmental perspective, emphasizing mainly work published in the last decade / by prosocial or altruistic behaviors we mean acts that include provision of comfort or sympathy, helping, sharing, cooperation, rescue, protection, and defense / also review work on emotions and cognitions that often accompany, and are integral features of, prosocial behaviors / this includes children's empathy or emotional incorporation of the others' emotional experience, as well as their moral reasoning and cognitive comprehension of others' internal states and needs (perspective taking, role taking) / begin with work on the development and socialization of prosocial behavior, then shift to research on empathy, sex differences, conditions of risk, and psychopathology (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)