This study examines the effects of pupil dilation and iris brightness on the prosocial behavior of people and their attitudes toward primates. We hypothesize that these factors influence...Show moreThis study examines the effects of pupil dilation and iris brightness on the prosocial behavior of people and their attitudes toward primates. We hypothesize that these factors influence perceptions of primates and have an impact on monetary donations as well as ratings of attractiveness, friendliness, and cuteness. The study used a modified dictator game as the primary methodology, with 81 participants completing an online survey and meeting the criteria. Participants were randomly assigned to different iris brightness conditions, either dark or light. During the survey, participants were presented with a total of 64 image pairs, each containing facial portraits of 32 different primate species. We manipulated iris brightness and pupil size of the portraits. Analysis of the data, conducted using mixed repeated measures ANOVA, revealed that pupil dilation significantly influenced several variables. Primates with dilated pupils received higher donation amounts. Although the effects of iris brightness did not reach statistical significance, there was a notable trend indicating increased generosity toward primates with lighter irises. Interestingly, when the pupil was more visible, as shown in the light iris condition, the effects of pupil dilation tended to be more pronounced, although they did not reach the threshold for statistical significance. This research contributes to our understanding of the complex mechanisms behind prosocial behavior when exposed to specific facial features and provides insight into how humans perceive and interact with non-human species, particularly in the context of eye appearance.Show less
Mechanisms underlying prosocial behavior, behavior or actions carried out with the intention to benefit another individual, are unclear. Previous studies have found a positive relationship between...Show moreMechanisms underlying prosocial behavior, behavior or actions carried out with the intention to benefit another individual, are unclear. Previous studies have found a positive relationship between empathy and prosocial learning. The current study, inspired by the study of Lockwood and colleagues (2016), consists of two experiments where the link between prosocial learning, learning to obtain rewards for others, and empathy is investigated through a probabilistic learning task based on reinforcement learning principles. Participants had to choose between two different symbols and learn which of these had the highest probability of earning points in three different conditions: for themselves (selfish), for another person (other) or for no one (none). The first experiment measured the conditions with two probabilities (60/40, 70/30), whereas in the second experiment one probability was used (75/25). The aim of the current study was to replicate the findings of Lockwood and colleagues (2016) who found a positive relationship between empathy and prosocial learning with the same probabilities as our second experiment. The results from both experiments revealed no significant relationship between empathy and prosocial learning. The second experiment showed that participants learned better in the selfish condition compared to the prosocial and none condition. It can be concluded that in the current study no link was found between empathy and prosocial learning, which might be explained from the differences in research design between the study of Lockwood and colleagues (2016) and the current study. There seemed to be a self-bias in learning, i.e., people learn better for themselves than for others.Show less
Maternal emotion socialization plays an important role in the socioemotional development of young children. However, there is a lack of research regarding the role of paternal emotion socialization...Show moreMaternal emotion socialization plays an important role in the socioemotional development of young children. However, there is a lack of research regarding the role of paternal emotion socialization and the moderating role of child factors in the relationship between parental emotion socialization and the child's socioemotional development. This study examines the relationship between parental emotion socialization and child empathy, prosocial behaviour, and externalizing problem behaviour, and whether this relationship is moderated by child gender and temperament. The sample consisted of 100 intact families with a mother, a father and their preschooler. To measure parental emotion socialization mothers and fathers were independently observed while reading a wordless emotion picture book to their child, which was designed to elicit parental comments about emotions. Child prosocial behaviour was measured during an observation task in which the child had to share raisins with his or her younger sibling. Questionnaires, filled in by both mothers and fathers, were used to measure child empathy, externalizing problem behaviour, and temperament. Results revealed that paternal emotion socialization was a positive predictor of externalizing problem behaviour of the child. Paternal emotion socialization was not associated with child empathy or prosocial behaviour. Furthermore, maternal emotion socialization was not related to child empathy, prosocial behaviour, or externalizing problem behaviour. Child gender and temperament did not moderate the relationship between parental emotion socialization and children's behaviour. This study shows that paternal emotion socialization plays a role in the development of children's externalizing problem behaviour. This stresses the importance of including fathers in future research concerning the influence of parental emotion socialization on the socioemotional development of young children.Show less
Introduction. Parental discipline strategies represent an important child-rearing component. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there is a relation between different discipline...Show moreIntroduction. Parental discipline strategies represent an important child-rearing component. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there is a relation between different discipline strategies of mothers and fathers and children’s prosocial behaviour, and to investigate the moderating role of child gender in this relation. Method. The research sample consisted of 100 couples (mothers and fathers) and their three-year-old child. Parents filled in a questionnaire about their child’s tendency towards empathic prosocial behaviour. Parental discipline styles (distraction and physical interference) and child prosocial behaviour were measured through home-based observations. Results. Findings revealed that maternal physical discipline negatively predicted child prosocial behaviour in the presence of the father. Children displayed less prosocial behaviour in the presence of their father when mothers showed more physical discipline. Furthermore, parental physical discipline and distraction were positively related to empathy and prosocial behaviour in boys. Boys were rated as more empathic when fathers showed more physical discipline, and they displayed more prosocial behaviour in the presence of their father when fathers exhibited more distraction. For girls no such relation was found. Discussion. Boys and girls appeared to be differential susceptible for parental distraction and physical discipline strategies, and mothers and fathers may affect boys’ and girls’ prosocial behaviour differently. From these findings recommendations for clinical practice can be made, such as involving both mothers and fathers in prevention and intervention programs for especially boys with early social-emotional developmental problems. Future longitudinal research is necessary to gain information about particularly distraction as a positive discipline strategy and its impact on young children’s prosocial behaviour.Show less
Ernstige gedragsproblemen bij jongeren hebben grote impact op de jongere zelf en de maatschappij als geheel. Uit eerder onderzoek blijkt dat agressief gedrag een positief verband heeft met...Show moreErnstige gedragsproblemen bij jongeren hebben grote impact op de jongere zelf en de maatschappij als geheel. Uit eerder onderzoek blijkt dat agressief gedrag een positief verband heeft met cognitieve vertekeningen en de afwezigheid van prosociaal gedrag. In deze studie is onderzocht in hoeverre cognitieve vertekeningen en prosociaal gedrag van reboundjongeren (12-15 jaar) afwijken van jongeren in het regulier voortgezet onderwijs. De studie werd verricht onder 169 jongeren, waaronder 73 reboundjongeren. Ook is geanalyseerd of de leeftijd van de jongeren verband hield met deze factoren. De voornaamste focus in deze studie was echter het meten van het effect op beide factoren van het EQUIP-programma dat in de reboundvoorziening wordt gehanteerd. Dataverzameling is verricht middels zelfrapportage, waarbij bij de reboundjongeren sprake was van een voor- en nameting. De resultaten van het onderzoek gaven aan dat er alleen op prosociaal gedrag verschil zichtbaar was tussen beide groepen, waarbij reboundjongeren zich tegen de verwachtingen in als meer prosociaal omschreven. De leeftijdstoename bleek slechts bij reboundjongeren te zorgen voor een toename in prosociaal gedrag. Het EQUIP-programma liet geen effecten zien op prosociaal gedrag, maar zorgde wel bij alle reboundjongeren voor een vermindering in cognitieve vertekeningen, waarbij de jongere doelgroep (12-13 jarigen) het meest profiteerde; EQUIP rust hen toe met een meer accurate manier van kijken naar gebeurtenissen in de wereld om hen heen.Show less
