Differences of Prosocial Motivation Among Targets of Prosocial Behavior in Early Adolescence

Abstract

This study examined the relation between prosocial behavior differentiated by target (toward family, friends, and strangers) and prosocial motivation (autonomous and controlled). Considering how prosocial motivation activates prosocial behavior might be useful for understanding early adolescent human relationships. The data were collected through an online questionnaire and included 1998 participants aged 10–15 years (mean age=11.18, standard deviation=1.47). To elucidate the differences in prosocial motivation between the targets of prosocial behavior, variable-centered and person-oriented approaches were employed. Analyses empirically showed that prosocial behaviors toward family and friends were connected to autonomous prosocial motivation, whereas behaviors toward strangers were correlated with both autonomous and controlled prosocial motivation. This article is expected to serve as a basis for future research to reveal the developmental changes in the relation between prosocial behavior and motivation in the relational approach framework.