For the study, the researchers conducted a series of surveys with 500 adolescents, beginning when the participants were 12 years old. The participants answered questions about sympathy and prosocial behaviors. Each year for four years, the researchers conducted additional surveys, which allowed them to observe the changes in the participants’ behavior and attitudes over time.
Engaging in prosocial behavior is self-reinforcing, the study reports. It may be that adolescents eventually come to incorporate prosocial and sympathetic behavior into their self-concept. The data demonstrated that boys have a decline in sympathy in early adolescence, but their sympathy increases steadily afterwards as they mature. In contrast, girls had higher levels of sympathy and prosocial behavior at all ages.
“We demonstrated that a reciprocal relationship existed between prosocial behaviors and sympathy for adolescents ages 12 to 16. Sympathy predicted prosocial behaviors, but also engaging in earlier prosocial behaviors positively predicted later sympathy,” stated Gustavo Carlo, Millsap Professor in Diversity at MU’s College of Human Environmental Sciences.
The results may help researchers understand what makes people altruistic and why some people exhibit exceptionally prosocial behaviors. The researchers also suggest that society needs to encourage both girls and boys to express prosocial and sympathetic behavior, instead of making boys act tough.
This research is published in the journal Developmental Psychology.
Previous news in prosocial behavior:
