Cultural variation in the early development of initiative in children's prosocial helping

Separate lines of research on prosocial development suggest that although toddlers worldwide are eagerly helpful, older children help voluntarily in some communities but other communities, become resistant to helping with household work. This study investigated these discrepancies by interviewing 64 Mexican-heritage and middle-class European American mothers 2–3-year-olds 6–7-year-olds, all living the US (20 12 at ages each community). Mothers’ reports consistent diverging developmental patterns, illuminate how involved work home: Most helped voluntarily, their own initiative (although did so more). At age 6–7, usually whereas seldom so; they generally under adult management control, contractual arrangements. Accounting for cultural variation is important advancing theories development; paper suggests socialization practices may explain different patterns.