Cited by 295Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentChild and Animal Learning DevelopmentCognitive Abilities and Testing

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Prosocial behavior from early to middle childhood: Genetic and environmental influences on stability and change.

Knafo, Ariel, Plomin, Robert·2006·Developmental Psychology

DOI 10.1037/0012-1649.42.5.771

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Abstract

Prosocial behavior is important for the functioning of society. This study investigates the extent to which environment shared by family members, nonshared environment, and genetics account for children's prosocial behavior. The prosocial behavior of twins (9,424 pairs) was rated by their parents at the ages of 2, 3, 4, and 7 and by their teachers at age 7. For parent ratings, shared environmental effects decreased from .47 on average at age 2 to .03 at age 7, and genetic effects increased from .32 on average to .61. The finding of weak shared environmental effects and large heritability at age 7 was largely confirmed through the use of teacher ratings. Using longitudinal genetic analyses, the authors conclude that genetic effects account for both change and continuity in prosocial behavior and nonshared environment contributes mainly to change.

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Authors: Knafo, A., & Plomin, R.
ORCID: Knafo, Ariel
Plomin, Robert
Venue: Developmental Psychology
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 2006
Volume: 42
Issue: 5
Pages: 771-786
ISSN: 0012-1649 (ISSN-L)
1939-0599
DOI: 10.1037/0012-1649.42.5.771
OpenAlex: W2162436287
Cited by: 295
References: 73
Citations by year: 2026: 7 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 25
FWCI: 11.06
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Developmental Psychology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders: Medical Research Council (G9424799)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
Keywords: prosocial behavior, heritability, shared environment, nonshared environment, genetic factors, environmental influences, continuity and change, early childhood, middle childhood, twins, parent ratings, teacher ratings
MeSH terms: Age Factors, Child, Child, Preschool, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Infant, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Personality Assessment, Phenotype, Sex Factors, Social Behavior, Social Environment, Socialization, Twins, Dizygotic, Twins, Monozygotic, Genetic Variation

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Prosocial behavior from early to middle childhood: Genetic and environmental influences on stability and change.

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