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1 - Introduction: What Is Prosocial Development?

Definition, History, Mechanisms

from Part I - Development of Prosociality

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 May 2023

By
Tina Malti  and
Maayan Davidov
Edited by
Tina Malti  and
Maayan Davidov
Tina Malti
Affiliation:
University of Toronto
Maayan Davidov
Affiliation:
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
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Summary

This chapter provides an introduction to the topic of this handbook: prosociality and its development across the first two decades of life, as well as causes, correlates, and consequences across the lifespan. We begin by providing conceptualizations of prosociality and derive an understanding of what prosociality is, and how it is different from related constructs. We then describe core theoretical accounts on prosocial development. Selected historical attempts to understand prosociality in humans are reviewed, along with historical turning points in early theorizing on prosocial development. Last, a brief summary of select mechanisms underlying the development of prosociality is presented.

Keywords

prosocialitychild developmenthistory of child developmentmechanisms of prosocial development
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Prosociality
Development, Mechanisms, Promotion
 , pp. 3 - 16
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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