Exploring the Methods and Mechanisms of Prosocial Development in Middle Childhood

Prosocial behaviors (i.e., acts that benefit others) appear early in human development and are associated with numerous positive developmental outcomes. Despite decades of research, the mechanisms underlying childhood prosociality remain relatively unclear. To further the field of prosocial development, an international and multi-institutional collaboration led by three prominent prosocial behavior researchers (Kristen Dunfield, Markus Paulus, and Nikolaus Steinbeis) is currently underway. This longitudinal research projects aims to further our understanding of the phenomenon by examining key candidate mechanisms within a large age-range (i.e., 3.5 to 7-year old) in order to identify common and distinct mechanisms underlying three prototypical varieties of prosocial behavior (i.e., helping, sharing, comforting).
Additionally, a sub-project aim of this larger project includes validating a parent-report measure of childhood prosociality in both English and German. A parent-report measure of prosociality will allow researchers to examine prosocial behavior in more diverse samples and to better track the associations between prosociality and positive developmental outcomes.
Considering the importance of prosociality in childhood, a deeper understanding of the phenomenon is critical in our ability to promote prosociality through the creation and implementation of targeted prosocial interventions.

Faculty Supervisor:

Kristen Ann Dunfield

Student:

Partner:

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Education

University:

Concordia University

Program: