Physiological mechanisms of prosociality

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Psychophysiology

Background:

• Prosociality in children is complex, influenced by individual differences.
• Psychophysiological measures offer unique insights into children's motivations for prosocial behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current research on the psychophysiology of children's prosociality.
• To explore how physiological measures inform our understanding of individual differences in prosocial behavior.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on common physiological measures: cortisol, sympathetic nervous system activity, and high-frequency heart rate variability.
• Analysis of context- and person-dependent links between physiology and prosociality.

Main Results:

• Existing literature shows mixed results regarding physiology and prosociality.
• Resting physiology balancing regulation and vigilance supports social coping.
• Both heightened arousal and hypoarousal can impair prosociality.
• Physiological flexibility is crucial for empathy-related responding.

Conclusions:

• Recent advances refine understanding of the basic physiological mechanisms underlying prosociality.
• Physiological flexibility in response to others' needs supports emotional and behavioral flexibility.
• Psychophysiological perspectives are vital for understanding children's prosocial development.