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Updated: Sep 27, 2026

Assessment of Social Interaction Behaviors
Published on: February 25, 2011
Prosocial behaviours of young adolescents: a focus group study
Christi Bergin1, Susan Talley, Lynne Hamer
1The University of Toledo, 4304 Royal Aberdeen, MO 65203, Columbia, USA. bergind@missouri.edu
Abstract:
This study investigated young adolescents' perceptions of their peers' prosocial behaviours. In eight focus groups, 53 11- to 13-year olds described specific prosocial acts of their peers. Results suggest that traditional research has not addressed the diversity of prosocial behaviours that youth enact, nor emphasized behaviours that are salient to young adolescents. Such behaviours included standing up for others, encouraging others, helping others develop skills, including others who are left out, and being humorous. Facilitating emotional regulation of others emerged as an important component of prosocial behaviour. These data can help guide future research on prosocial development to include a broader array of authentic behaviours of young adolescents.
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