Adolescent decision-making has been characterized as risky, and a heightened reward sensitivity may be one of the aspects contributing to riskier choice-behavior. Previous studies have targeted... Show moreAdolescent decision-making has been characterized as risky, and a heightened reward sensitivity may be one of the aspects contributing to riskier choice-behavior. Previous studies have targeted reward-sensitivity in adolescence and the neurobiological mechanisms of reward processing in the adolescent brain. In recent examples, researchers aim to disentangle the contributions of risk- and reward-sensitivity to adolescent risk-taking. Here, we discuss recent findings of adolescent's risk preferences and the associated neural mechanisms. We highlight potential frameworks that target individual differences in risk preferences in an effort to understand adolescent risk-taking, and with an ultimate goal of leveraging undesirable levels of risk taking. Show less
Dreu, C.K.W. de.; Farina, A.; Gross, J.A.J.; Romano, A. 2022
Intergroup conflict can be modeled as a two-level game of strategy in which prosociality can take the form of trust and cooperation within groups or between groups. We review recent work, from our... Show moreIntergroup conflict can be modeled as a two-level game of strategy in which prosociality can take the form of trust and cooperation within groups or between groups. We review recent work, from our own laboratory and that of others, that shows how biological and sociocultural mechanisms that promote prosocial preferences and beliefs create in-group bounded, parochial cooperation, and, sometimes, parochial competition. We show when and how parochial cooperation and competition intensify rather than mitigate intergroup conflict. Show less
In this review, we describe the development of prosocial behavior in adolescence as a critical inflection period for social adjustment. Experimental research using prosocial giving tasks... Show moreIn this review, we describe the development of prosocial behavior in adolescence as a critical inflection period for social adjustment. Experimental research using prosocial giving tasks demonstrates that adolescents differentiate more be-tween recipients and contexts, suggesting increasing ingroup-outgroup differentiation during adolescence. We also demonstrate that social brain development during adolescence is partly driven by environmental influences, further underlining adolescence as a critical period for social development. The COVID-19 pandemic has had and will have long-term effects on the current generation of adolescents, for which we describe both the risks, resilience factors, and opportunities for engaging in prosocial acts of kindness. Show less
The functioning of social collectives hinges on the willingness of their members to cooperate with one another and to help those who are in need. Here, we consider how such prosocial behavior is sh... Show moreThe functioning of social collectives hinges on the willingness of their members to cooperate with one another and to help those who are in need. Here, we consider how such prosocial behavior is shaped by emotions. We offer an integrative review of theoretical arguments and empirical findings concerning how the experience of emotions influences people's own prosocial behavior (intrapersonal effects) and how the expression of emotions influences the prosocial behavior of others (interpersonal effects). We identified research on five broad clusters of emotions associated with opportunity and affiliation (happiness, contentment, hope), appreciation and self-transcendence (gratitude, awe, elevation, compassion), distress and supplication (sadness, disappointment, fear, anxiety), dominance and status assertion (anger, disgust, contempt, envy, pride), and appeasement and social repair (guilt, regret, shame, embarrassment). Our review reveals notable differences between emotion clusters and between intrapersonal and interpersonal effects. Although some emotions promote prosocial behavior in the self and others, most emotions promote prosocial behavior either in the self (via their intrapersonal effects) or in others (via their interpersonal effects), suggesting trade-offs between the functionality of emotional experience and emotional expression. Moreover, interpersonal effects are modulated by the cooperative versus competitive nature of the situation. We discuss the emerging patterns from a social-functional perspective and conclude that understanding the role of emotion in prosociality requires joint attention to intrapersonal and interpersonal effects. Show less
Direct and indirect reciprocity are two fundamental mechanisms that promote prosocial behavior within groups and across societies. Here, we review recent work that illustrates how a (direct and... Show moreDirect and indirect reciprocity are two fundamental mechanisms that promote prosocial behavior within groups and across societies. Here, we review recent work that illustrates how a (direct and indirect) reciprocity framework can illuminate our understanding of several factors related to prosocial behavior — namely group membership, gossip, and third-party punishment. We propose that each of these factors can promote prosocial behavior via proximate psychological mechanisms related to direct and indirect reciprocity: reputational concern, expectations, and anticipation of future interaction. Finally, we discuss the implications of adopting such a framework and highlight a number of avenues for future research. Show less
We review recent work on human neuroendocrine and cardiovascular responses to stable and unstable status. We describe experiments examining inter-personal and inter-group contexts, involving both... Show moreWe review recent work on human neuroendocrine and cardiovascular responses to stable and unstable status. We describe experiments examining inter-personal and inter-group contexts, involving both experimentally created as well as naturalistic (gender, SES) status differences. Across studies the pattern of results is clear: Stable status differences are stressful for those low in status, which is evident from increased cortisol and a cardiovascular response-pattern indicative of threat (low cardiac output, high vascular resistance); however, when status differences are unstable the same effects are found among those high in status, while those low in status show challenge (low vascular resistance, high cardiac output). Potential status-loss also leads to increased testosterone. We discuss implications and suggestions for further research. Show less
This paper reviews the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying prosocial development in childhood. I begin by arguing that most prosociality is costly. This cost needs to be regulated for prosocial... Show moreThis paper reviews the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying prosocial development in childhood. I begin by arguing that most prosociality is costly. This cost needs to be regulated for prosocial behavior to occur. The precise regulatory mechanisms depend on the type of prosocial behavior and include behavioral control in the case of sharing and emotion regulation in the case of helping. I review evidence that these regulatory mechanisms are subserved by prefrontal cortical circuitry, which depending on the mechanism interacts with different brain regions coding for self-related and other-related affect to produce prosocial behavior. I conclude that the maturation of prefrontal cortical circuitry drives the development of both sharing and helping in childhood through supporting the emergence of relevant regulatory mechanisms. Show less
