The term prosocial behavior refers to the positive social actions: helping others, the ability to share something, altruism, empathy, care, etc. Self-regulation denotes the direction of the action on the one who produces it. People regulate their mental state, and thus they will have the ability to empathize, the desire to help. Self-control also plays an active part in supporting prosocial behavior because it affects a person’s ability to control themselves in a particular situation and understand how to behave correctly (Gloster et al., 2020). Empathy is one of the main aspects of the formation of prosocial behavior since it is often empathy that gives people the desire to help others and take care of them. Although some children desire to help and empathize since childhood, it is still necessary to develop such prosocial behavior.
Parents should contribute to the effective development of prosocial behavior in children, which is achieved by monitoring the child’s behavior, setting an excellent example since parents are often the primary example for children. Unjustified use of force and threats should be avoided, as this can become a counteraction in the formation of prosocial behavior in children. Educators can also exert their influence by helping to develop self-control. The child should be aware of the possible consequences of their actions, both good and bad. In addition, caregivers can also help form a sense of empathy in children by sharing time with homeless animals, the elderly, etc.
Parents and caregivers should be concerned when a child shows aggression towards other people or does not feel sorry for those in a bad situation or is unable to help themselves. In such cases, teachers and parents should pay attention to children’s actions, talk to them, and start working on the development of prosocial behavior. There are many different resources available for forming social behavior in children, such as books, seminars, events for children that allow them to communicate and express themselves.
In conclusion, the formation of prosocial behavior in children is an essential part of creating a compassionate and healthy society. It is imperative to pay attention to how the child behaves to prevent the formation of bad behavior and start working on a correction. Understanding the formation of prosocial behavior is essential to me since I will be a parent responsible for raising a kind and empathetic child; I will also probably link my profession with working with children in the future.
Reference
Gloster, A.T., Rinner, M.T.B. & Meyer, A.H. (2020. Increasing prosocial behavior and decreasing selfishness in the lab and everyday life. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 1-15. Web.