Prosocial behavior is good for people's health and wellbeing, but not all altruistic acts are equally beneficial for the giver. Read More
Using chemogenetic methods, researchers activated neurons in the anterior insular and increased prosocial behavior in rodent models of opioid addiction. Read More
Upstream reciprocity, or generosity, can be seen in children as young as four years of age. At age three, 80% of children do not want to share, but at age four, 60% of children are happy to share with others. Read More
Influence of social norms shapes a child's desire to share by the age of eight. Read More
Study identifies three distinct types of teen popularity, prosocial popular, aggressive popular, and bistrategic popular or Machiavellian. The Machiavellian teens were considered most popular, despite being above average on both physical and relational aggression traits, as they displayed the most prosocial behavior. Read More
A positive correlation has been identified between prosocial and rebellious behaviors in teens. The more risk taking behaviors a teen exhibited, the more likely they were to act prosocially. The findings suggest the same developmental processes are at work for both types of behaviors. Also noted was faster brain development in the medial prefrontal cortex predicted a decrease in rebellious behavior. Read More
Researchers report priming people with images of superheros increases their prosocial behaviors. Read More
According to researchers, chimpanzees make prosocial choices more rapidly than making choices that only benefit themselves. Read More
According to researchers, when faced with high stakes decision making tasks, people are more likely to lose sight of personal morality, leading to more cheating and less charitable efforts. Read More
Researchers report altruistic motivations and behaviors can be changed with the help of mental training. Read More
Contrary to popular belief, researchers report infants who co-sleep in their parent's bedroom do not experience an increased risk of developing behavioral problems later in childhood. The study reports there are beneficial outcomes of co-sleeping, such as improved child sleep quality and increased prosocial behavior. Read More
Testing the behavioral reaction to MDMA in octopuses, researchers report they have discovered evidence of an evolutionary link between the sea creatures and humans. Read More
