Adolescent Prosocial Behavior: The Role of Self-Processes and Contextual Cues
- 1 May 2007
- journal article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Child Development
- Vol. 78 (3) , 895-910
Abstract
Peer- and teacher-reported prosocial behavior of 339 6th-grade (11–12 years) and 8th-grade (13–14 years) students was examined in relation to prosocial goals, self-processes (reasons for behavior, empathy, perspective taking, depressive affect, perceived competence), and contextual cues (expectations of peers and teachers). Goal pursuit significantly predicted prosocial behavior, and goal pursuit provided a pathway by which reasons for behavior were related to behavior. Reasons reflected external, other-focused, self-focused, and internal justifications for behavior; each reason was related to a unique set of self-processes and contextual cues. Associations between prosocial outcomes and sex and race (Caucasian and African American) were mediated in part by self-processes and contextual cues. The implications of studying prosocial behavior from a motivational perspective are discussed.Keywords
This publication has 48 references indexed in Scilit:
- Prosocial and Coercive Configurations of Resource Control in Early Adolescence: A Case for the Well-Adapted MachiavellianMerrill-Palmer Quarterly, 2003
- Sociable and prosocial dimensions of social competence in Chinese children: Common and unique contributions to social, academic, and psychological adjustment.Developmental Psychology, 2000
- Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being.American Psychologist, 2000
- Early Adolescence and Prosocial/Moral Behavior II:The Journal of Early Adolescence, 1999
- Relations between Social Competence and Academic Achievement in Early AdolescenceChild Development, 1991
- Students' Multiple Worlds: Negotiating the Boundaries of Family, Peer, and School CulturesAnthropology & Education Quarterly, 1991
- Perceived locus of causality and internalization: Examining reasons for acting in two domains.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1989
- Gender and helping behavior: A meta-analytic review of the social psychological literature.Psychological Bulletin, 1986
- The moderator–mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1986
- Measuring individual differences in empathy: Evidence for a multidimensional approach.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1983