Outgroup prosocial behaviour among children and adolescents in conflict settings

Deirdre Moran, Laura K. Taylor

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)
159 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

More than 420 million children live amid political conflict. In such settings, understanding the development of prosocial behaviours, specifically directed at outgroups, can provide opportunities for peacebuilding. Informed by research on intergroup competition and structural inequality, we focus on outgroup prosocial behaviour targeting conflict rivals. Already from a young age, children are politically socialised and show intergroup biases that dampen helping behaviours towards conflict rivals, which continue into adulthood. We review factors that shape youth's interpersonal helping and broader forms of prosociality, such as civic engagement, across group lines. We conceptualise outgroup prosocial behaviour along a continuum, ranging from interpersonal acts to broader structural and cultural constructive change. We conclude with directions for future research.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)69-73
JournalCurrent Opinion in Psychology
Volume44
Early online date04 Sept 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2022

Keywords

  • Adolescents
  • Children
  • Intergroup relations
  • Prosocial behaviour
  • Protracted conflict

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