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5 - The Developmental Psychophysiology of Prosociality

from Part I - Development of Prosociality

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 May 2023

By
Paul D. Hastings ,
Ryan T. Hodge  and
Lindsey C. Partington
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

For four decades, developmental scientists have been examining the links between children’s and adolescents’ prosociality and the activity of their peripheral physiological systems. In this chapter, we review the theories and studies that evaluate these links. In particular, we emphasize that the developmental psychophysiology of prosociality needs to be understood as involving dynamic and nonlinear processes occurring within the immediate contexts of evocative situations and shaped by the enduring contexts of close relationships.

Keywords

autonomic nervous systempolyvagal theoryhypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis systembiopsychosocial modelscontextual influencesnonlinear effectsempathic concernprosocial behaviorchildhoodadolescence
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Prosociality
Development, Mechanisms, Promotion
 , pp. 85 - 107
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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