Children’s sympathy (i.e., feelings of sorrow toward another person) and prosocial behaviors (i.e., voluntary actions to benefit another; Eisenberg et al., 2015) are related to the group dynamics, suggesting that children strive to benefit the ingroup than the outgroup members (Renno & Shutts, 2015). This study investigated how young children's sympathy, prosocial behaviors, and social inclusion differ across age groups (i.e., 3, 4, 5 years) and child sex based on the characteristics of the targets. Participants were N = 406 children (46% girls) aged 3 to 5 years (Mage = 4.33 years; SD = 0.70). We presented a series of vignettes depicting social injustices toward either a migrant-origin or non-migrant- origin peer and asked questions to assess children’s sympathy and social inclusion toward the victim (Spinrad et al., 2023; αs from .86 to .88). Prosocial behavior was measured using a sticker-sharing task in which children were shown pictures of 10 same-sex peers (5 migrant-origin, 5 non-migrant-origin peers; Spinrad et al., 2023). Results from general linear mixed models indicated that children reported lower levels of sympathy and social inclusion toward migrant-origin peers compared to non-migrant origin peers. Only 5-year-olds children—but not 3-4-year-olds children—reported lower sympathy for migrant-origin peers (B = -.11, SE = .02, p < .05). No significant associations emerged between target characteristics and prosocial behaviors (B = -.07, SE = .19, p = .94). Overall, older children reported higher levels of sympathy (B = .26, SE = .08, p < .01) and social inclusion (B = .21, SE = .07, p < .01), while girls displayed higher social inclusion than boys (B = .12,SE = .05, p < .05). Overall, only 5-year-old children displayed lower sympathy for migrant-origin peers, suggesting that this age marks a critical period for the development of ingroup favoritism in the expression of feelings of sympathy.
Preschool Children's Sympathy, Prosocial Behavior, and Social Inclusion toward Non-Migrant and Migrant-Origin Peers in Italy / Di Tata, Daniele; Sette, Stefania; Coppola, Gabrielle; Bianco, Federica; Silvia Lillo, Lucia; Rinaldi, Aurora; Zava, Federica; Camodeca, Marina; Castelli, Ilaria; Laghi, Fiorenzo; Spinrad, Tracy. - (2025). ( 22nd European Conference on Developmental Psychology (ECDP) Vilnius ).
Preschool Children's Sympathy, Prosocial Behavior, and Social Inclusion toward Non-Migrant and Migrant-Origin Peers in Italy
Daniele Di Tata;Stefania Sette;Fiorenzo Laghi;
2025
Abstract
Children’s sympathy (i.e., feelings of sorrow toward another person) and prosocial behaviors (i.e., voluntary actions to benefit another; Eisenberg et al., 2015) are related to the group dynamics, suggesting that children strive to benefit the ingroup than the outgroup members (Renno & Shutts, 2015). This study investigated how young children's sympathy, prosocial behaviors, and social inclusion differ across age groups (i.e., 3, 4, 5 years) and child sex based on the characteristics of the targets. Participants were N = 406 children (46% girls) aged 3 to 5 years (Mage = 4.33 years; SD = 0.70). We presented a series of vignettes depicting social injustices toward either a migrant-origin or non-migrant- origin peer and asked questions to assess children’s sympathy and social inclusion toward the victim (Spinrad et al., 2023; αs from .86 to .88). Prosocial behavior was measured using a sticker-sharing task in which children were shown pictures of 10 same-sex peers (5 migrant-origin, 5 non-migrant-origin peers; Spinrad et al., 2023). Results from general linear mixed models indicated that children reported lower levels of sympathy and social inclusion toward migrant-origin peers compared to non-migrant origin peers. Only 5-year-olds children—but not 3-4-year-olds children—reported lower sympathy for migrant-origin peers (B = -.11, SE = .02, p < .05). No significant associations emerged between target characteristics and prosocial behaviors (B = -.07, SE = .19, p = .94). Overall, older children reported higher levels of sympathy (B = .26, SE = .08, p < .01) and social inclusion (B = .21, SE = .07, p < .01), while girls displayed higher social inclusion than boys (B = .12,SE = .05, p < .05). Overall, only 5-year-old children displayed lower sympathy for migrant-origin peers, suggesting that this age marks a critical period for the development of ingroup favoritism in the expression of feelings of sympathy.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
