Prosocial development in adolescence: A longitudinal study.

Abstract

Change in prosocial moral reasoning over an 11-year period, gender differences in prosocial reasoning in adolescence, and the interrelations of moral reasoning, prosocial behavior, and empathy-related emotional responses were examined with longitudinal data and data from adolescents interviewed for the first time. Hedonistic reasoning declined in use until adolescence and then increased somewhat (primarily for boys). Needs-oriented reasoning, direct reciprocity reasoning, and approval and stereotypic reasoning increased until midchildhood or early adolescence and then declined. Several modes of higher level reasoning emerged in late childhood or adolescence. Girls' overall reasoning was higher than boys'. Consistent with expectations, there was some evidence of high level prosocial reasoning being associated with procosial behavior and empathy and of a relation between sympathy or empathy and prosocial behavior

Cites (31)

1. Review of personality and social psychology
   Ladd S. Wheeler, Phillip R. Shaver · 1980 · UMI Books on Demand
2. Handbook of socialization: theory and research
   2007 · Choice Reviews Online
3. The relation of empathy to prosocial and related behaviors
   Eisenberg, Nancy, Miller, Paul A. · 1987 · Psychological Bulletin
4. Enquiries Concerning Human Understanding and Concerning the Principles of Morals
   Hume, David · 1777 · David Hume: Enquiries Concerning Human Understanding and Concerning the Principles of Morals (Third Edition)
5. Empathy and its development
   Nancy Eisenberg, Janet Strayer · 1987
6. The Philosophy of Moral Development Moral Stages and the Idea of Justice
   Lawrence Kohlberg · 1981 · PhilPapers (PhilPapers Foundation)
7. growth of interpersonal understanding
   Robert L. Selman · 1980
8. Prosocial Motivation: Is it ever Truly Altruistic?
   Batson, C. Daniel · 1987 · Advances in Experimental Social Psychology
9. The altruistic personality and the self-report altruism scale
   Philippe Rushton, J., Chrisjohn, Roland D., Cynthia Fekken, G. · 1981 · Personality and Individual Differences
10. Behavioral Development and Construct Validity: The Principle of Aggregation
    Rushton, J. Philippe, Brainerd, Charles J., Pressley, Michael · 1983 · Psychological Bulletin

Show all 31 references

Cited by (12)

1. Emotion, regulation, and moral development
   Eisenberg, Nancy · 2000 · Annual Review of Psychology
2. Is gratitude a moral affect?
   McCullough, Michael E., Kilpatrick, Shelley D., Emmons, Robert A., Larson, David B. · 2001 · Psychological Bulletin
3. The role of autonomy support and autonomy orientation in prosocial behavior engagement
   Gagné, Marylène · 2003 · Motivation and Emotion
4. Empathy-Related Responding: Associations with Prosocial Behavior, Aggression, and Intergroup Relations
   Eisenberg, Nancy, Eggum, Natalie D., Di Giunta, Laura · 2010 · Social Issues and Policy Review
5. Prosocial development in early adulthood: A longitudinal study.
   Eisenberg, Nancy, Guthrie, Ivanna K., Cumberland, Amanda, Murphy, Bridget C., Shepard, Stephanie A., Zhou, Qing, Carlo, Gustavo · 2002 · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

See all 444