Testing the bounds of compassion in young children

James N. Kirby, Kelly Kirkland, Matti Wilks, Mitchell Green, Porntida Tanjitpiyanond, Nafisa Chowdhury, Mark Nielsen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

Extensive research shows that, under the right circumstances, children are highly prosocial. Extending an already published paradigm, we aimed here to determine what factors might facilitate and inhibit compassionate behaviour. Across five experiments (N = 285), we provide new insight into the bounds of 4- to 5-year-old children's compassionate behaviour. In the first three experiments, we varied cost of compassion by changing the reward (Study 1), using explicit instructions (Study 2) and ownership (Study 3). In the final two experiments, we varied the target of the compassionate behaviour, examining adults compared with puppet targets (Study 4), and whether the target was an in-group member (Study 5). We found strong evidence that cost reduces compassionate responding. By contrast, the recipient of compassion did not appear to influence responding: children were equally likely to help a human adult and a puppet, and an in-group member and neutral agent. These findings demonstrate that for young children, personal cost appears to be a greater inhibitor to compassionate responding than who compassion is directed toward.
Original languageEnglish
Article number221448
JournalRoyal Society Open Science
Volume10
Issue number2
Early online date15 Feb 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • competition
  • cost
  • motivation
  • children
  • compassion

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