In an article published in Nature Reviews Psychology , scientists have discussed key factors associated with the development of prosocial behaviors in children and childhood adversities that can potentially affect this development. Prosocial behaviors or prosociality comprise a range of acts, including caring, sharing, volunteering, donating, helping, and showing kindness, which are intended to benefit others. Children are known to develop prosociality from a young age, which is important because prosociality positively influences well-being, social harmony, and peace at the individual, community, and global levels.
Prosocial emotions, cognitions, and behaviors emerge in children as early as three months of age. At this age, infants exhibit concern for distressed individuals. Basic prosocial behaviors, such as instrumental helping, comforting, and sharing, appear in toddlers at the age of one to two years.
More complex prosocial behaviors, such as empathy, guilt, displays of concern, and understanding the needs and emotions of others, develop and increase sharply from infancy to mid-childhood. Prosocial behaviors tend to stabilize or even decline, and prosocial emotions and motives continue to become more sophisticated between mid-childhood and adolescence. This period is characterized by the inclusion of abstract concepts, such as respect and compassion, which subsequently increase engagement in prosocial behaviors such as volunteering, donating, and civic engagement.
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