How developing prosocial motivations shape children's altruism.
Trends Cogn Sci 2026 Apr 18. [Online ahead of print]

Abstract

Developmental perspectives are crucial to harnessing the human potential for altruism. We synthesise and highlight recent research on the motivations underlying children's (costly) prosocial behaviour. The order in which children develop intrinsic, extrinsic, and strategic motivations to benefit others has implications for efforts to positively impact young people's lives.

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Authors+Show Affiliations

Hepach RDepartment of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; New College, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom. Electronic address: robert.hepach@psy.ox.ac.uk.
Daniel ESchool of Education, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

42002426