Emma G Larson

• Doctor of Philosophy
• Louisiana State University

Research has demonstrated that engaging in helping behavior is highly valued by children and adults and has diverse benefits for the recipient, helper, and larger group. Not surprisingly, raising children who exhibit pro-social behavior such as helping others is a central concern for parents and societies. However, the learning process that leads t...

This study examined social influences on 3-year-old children’s decisions to help an experimenter gain another person’s attention (N = 32). Children were slower to help the experimenter when the target had previously expressed disinterest in attending to her. Shy children were less likely to support the experimenter’s attempts to communicate with th...