A Cultural Perspective on Prosocial Development

Anthropological studies and recent evidence from cross-cultural psychology suggest considerable variations in the way prosocial behavior is conceptualized and embedded in social interactions across cultures. Important questions are which aspects of different ecosocial contexts might explain these variations and how these aspects influence prosocial development throughout ontogeny. Here, building on the ecosocial model of culturally informed development (Keller, 2007), we hypothesize two prototypical developmental pathways towards prosocial behavior. In relational contexts, i.e., rural areas of non-Western countries, social interactions and the concept of prosociality is guided by interpersonal responsibilities. Conversely, in autonomous contexts, i.e. urban middle-class settings in Western countries, social interactions and the concept of prosociality is guided by an emphasis on personal choice. Furthermore, we point out three perspectives for future cross-cultural research on prosocial development. It is essential (1) to further investigate the cultural influences on prosocial development, (2) to understand the mechanisms of cultural transmission in different contexts, and (3) to identify the motivational processes underlying early prosocial behavior. We conclude that prosocial development can only be fully understood also taking into account a cultural perspective. In particular, future cross-cultural research may lead to a better understanding of the complex interplay between phylogenetic and ontogenetic factors underlying prosocial development.