Out-group prosocial giving during childhood: The role of in-group preference and out-group attitudes in a divided society. (July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shamoa-Nir, Lipaz; Razpurker-Apfeld, Irene; Dautel, Jocelyn B.; Taylor, Laura K.
• Is Part Of: International journal of behavioral development. Volume 45:Number 4(2021)
• Page Start: 337
• Page End: 344
• Publication Date: 2021-07
• Subjects: Out-group prosocial behavior -- intergroup conflict -- resource distribution -- children -- Israel; Developmental psychology -- Periodicals; Behaviorism (Psychology) -- Periodicals; 150
• DOI: 10.1177/0165025420935619
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-0254

Abstract

Amid protracted conflict, children are raised in divided contexts that shape the development of their intergroup attitudes and behaviors. Social identity development theory (SIDT) suggests that in-group preference may contribute to more negative out-group attitudes and behaviors in middle childhood. In such contexts, in-group favoritism may shape resource distribution, a key indicator of prosocial behavior. This study examined the predictors of resource distribution among 387 children (age: M = 9.59, SD = 2.34) of majority (Jewish) and minority (Arab-Muslim) groups in Israel. Rooted in SIDT, a multiple-group chain mediation found that the effect of age on out-group prosocial giving was serially mediated by the child's in-group symbol preference and negative out-group attitudes. The mediation held across both majority and minority groups, highlighting the underlying developmental process of prosocial giving across group lines in a divided society.