UNDERSTANDING THE EMOTIONAL CONTEXT OF PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOR BY CHILDREN AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGE

Abstract

The article presents the results of experimental study of children’s conceptions regarding the emotions of people, involved in prosocial interaction. In the present research children of four age subgroups (from 6 to 10 years old) expressed their opinions regarding the feelings in the case of help giving or keeping the passive position. The analysis of children’s responses presents that they are able to understand their prosocial actions and describe the emotional reactions caused by its. The author discusses the dependence of described emotional state on the role of personality in prosocial interaction (provider or recipient of assistance).