Helping behavior in Disney animated movies and children’s helping behavior in the Netherlands

This study is the first to examine whether Disney animated characters can inspire children to help others immediately upon exposure. This experiment involved 113 Dutch children (M = 9.03; SD = .738) and their friends. Children in the experimental condition were exposed to a Disney clip in which the main character helped a friend, while children in the control condition watched a clip without helping behavior. Afterward, children’s helping behavior toward their friends was assessed during a puzzle challenge. A regression analysis revealed that children exposed to the helping Disney character were more likely to help their friends than children who did not watch this. The findings indicate a short-term effect of watching a helping Disney animated character on children’s helping behavior.