Prosocial behaviour
Prosocial behaviour is any behaviour that benefits others. There are 3 distinct categories; Firstly, sharing, for example dividing up toys or food. Secondly, helping, giving another child a teddy if they are crying, picking up socks and putting them in the washing machine, giving mum a cuddle when she is upset watching a sad television programme, and thirdly, cooperation, for example helping when getting dressed, giving something to a big sister when she is building a den.
Prosocial behaviour includes the development of altruism. This is behaviour that does not benefit oneself but does benefit others, such as helping or sharing. Children as young as 18 months are observed to engage in altruistic behaviours, such as comforting or hugging peers in pain.
Development of prosocial behaviour also includes the development of empathy. This is being able to take the perspective of others and is linked to Theory of Mind, a stage in cognitive development which involves children being able to guess the motivations of others and to see things from their point of view. This is not well developed until children are about 5. Until then it's hard for them to put themselves in someone else's shoes.
There are a number of skills that the child needs in order to show empathetic behaviours. As well as the ability to perform a specific skill, these include the cognitive ability to recognise himself or herself as able to make things happen and secondly, the emotional capacity to empathise with another person. Having secure attachments and encouraging children to interact with others helps them in the development of these skills.
Select each stage below to see how empathy in children develops.
Stage 1. Global empathy 'emotional contagion'. Babies only days and weeks old will cry at the sound of another baby's cries.
Stage 2. (aged 1-2 years) Egocentric empathy. At this age they are aware of themselves as a distinct person. They can recognise emotions in others and will attempt to comfort them in the way they like to be comforted.
Stage 3. (2-6 years) Empathy for another's feelings and respond to distress in non-egocentric ways.
Stage 4. (late childhood to adolescence) Empathy for another's life condition.
