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The Development of Prosocial Behavior versus Nonprosocial Behavior in Children

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Handbook of Developmental Psychopathology

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to review factors related to behavior in children that is egoistic, selfish, and lacking in prosocial elements. There is, however, little research in which the primary intent of the investigator was to study such behavior; most researchers concerned with children’s negative moral behavior have focused upon delinquency, aggression, dishonesty, and lack of resistance to temptation, but not upon selfishness and related behaviors (Hoffman, 1970; Parke & Slaby, 1983). Nonetheless, there is considerable information available concerning our topic—information embedded in the large and fast-growing literature concerning the development and maintenance of prosocial behavior (i.e., voluntary behavior intended to benefit another), including altruistic behavior (i.e., voluntary behavior intended to benefit another which is not motivated by the expectation of external reward; Eisenberg, 1982; Staub, 1978).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, 85281, USA

    Nancy Eisenberg & Paul Miller

Authors
  1. Nancy Eisenberg
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  2. Paul Miller
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA

    Michael Lewis

  2. Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Suzanne M. Miller

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© 1990 Plenum Press, New York

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Eisenberg, N., Miller, P. (1990). The Development of Prosocial Behavior versus Nonprosocial Behavior in Children. In: Lewis, M., Miller, S.M. (eds) Handbook of Developmental Psychopathology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-7142-1_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-7142-1_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4615-7144-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-7142-1

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