Prosocial behavior-broadly defined as voluntary action intended to help or benefit another-has been associated with positive outcomes across the lifespan. Children with a more prosocial orientation are better liked and trusted by their peers, have a higher status in peer groups, are better at maintaining friendships, demonstrate better self regulation, empathy, and social cognitive skills, and excel in academics. Researchers have shown that prosocial behaviors correlate to lower rates of school suspension and drop-out, teen pregnancy, substance use, aggression, and delinquency. These positive effects speak to the value of prosocial behavior during formative years.
Prosocial Development examines a variety of biological, socialization, and contextual influences on prosocial development from infancy through early adulthood. While the definition of prosocial behavior may seem straightforward, recent research has highlighted its multifaceted nature. This volume specifically focuses on the multidimensionality of prosocial development, examining different contexts, motivations, types, and targets of prosocial behavior that are differentially predicted by socialization and dispositional characteristics. Skillfully edited by Drs. Padilla-Walker and Carlo, each chapter in this volume highlights some aspect of multidimensionality in regard to prosocial behavior and meaningful avenues for future research. This volume will be an important tool for scholars, researchers, and practitioners who are interested in prosocial, moral, and positive youth development. The organization and focus of this volume are also well-suited for use as a text for graduate
courses in moral development, child and adolescent development, social psychology, sociology, anthropology, and family studies.
Industry Reviews
"This important and comprehensive volume is a 'must read' for anyone interested in learning about the emergence and development of prosocial behavior. The chapters in this book, written by leading scholars in the field, highlight recent advances across a range of disciplines in understanding prosocial behavior as a multidimensional construct. This book will be a valuable resource for graduate students and professionals interested in better understanding
prosociality, which is an essential aspect of human flourishing." -Judi Smetana, PhD, Department of Clinical & Social Sciences in Psychology, University of Rochester
"This edited volume is a major achievement that will have a galvanizing effect on the next frontier of research on prosocial development. It features cutting edge, integrative research by the leading scholars in developmental science, and will be required reading for some time to come." -Daniel Lapsley, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame
"Our success and survival as a species rests on our ability to act on behalf of others. This comprehensive volume on the complexities of these positive human potentials is both scholarly and accessible to a wide audience. It paves the way for developing a richer, more nuanced understanding of why and how we care for others, as well as for fostering these qualities for the sake of future generations."-Carolyn Zahn-Waxler, PhD, Research Scientist, Center for
Investigating Health Minds at the Waisman Center, and Center for Child and Family Well-being, University of Wisconsin-Madison
"Organizing research on the development of prosocial behavior can be a daunting task because, as Padilla-Walker and Carlo note, different forms of prosocial action are frequently treated as though they had the same underlying characteristics. This edited book is a tremendously valuable resource, bringing together experts in the field whose chapters provide a comprehensive overview of the development of prosocial behavior as well as the opportunity to understand
some of the complexities of its multidimensional nature." -Joan Grusec, PhD, Professor Emerita of Psychology, University of Toronto
