The origins of sharing behavior remain a mystery, but research using procedures adapted from studies on chimpanzees sheds light on this topic. In a sharing task presented to 18- and 25-month-old children, their responses varied depending on the recipient’s communication of needs. While younger toddlers chose randomly when the recipient was silent, older toddlers shared when the recipient expressed their desires.
Compassion drives humans to engage in prosocial behaviors such as cooperating, helping, comforting, and sharing with strangers. By middle childhood, children actively participate in norm-based sharing, cooperation, and moral behaviors.
In the second year of life, children begin showing empathic concern, helping adults, assisting with tasks, and cooperating with others – indicating early forms of prosocial behavior. These initial behaviors are stepping stones towards more complex and altruistic prosocial behaviors in childhood.
Research indicates that parents often encourage infants to share, although sharing remains relatively uncommon unless requested. Preschoolers tend to share valued resources less frequently compared to helping and cooperating, suggesting that sharing may be more challenging for young children and emerge later in development.
Experimental studies of sharing in very young children are limited. By examining sharing behavior experimentally in one- and two-year-olds, researchers observed the earliest instances of this fundamental prosocial behavior.
In addition to the findings mentioned in the study, it is important to note that sharing behaviors in children can also be influenced by factors such as parental modeling, cultural norms, and individual temperament. Research has shown that children who observe their parents engaging in prosocial behaviors are more likely to exhibit similar behaviors themselves. Furthermore, cultural expectations regarding sharing and cooperation can shape children’s understanding of social interactions.
Individual differences in temperament, such as empathy and social skills, can also play a role in children’s willingness to share. Children who are more empathetic and socially adept may be more inclined to consider the needs of others and engage in sharing behaviors. On the other hand, children who are more self-focused or have difficulty understanding others’ perspectives may struggle with sharing.
It is also worth exploring the long-term implications of early sharing behaviors. Research suggests that children who demonstrate prosocial behaviors in early childhood are more likely to develop positive social relationships and exhibit empathy and kindness in later years. Encouraging sharing and cooperation in early childhood can therefore have lasting benefits for children’s social development.
Future studies could investigate the role of socialization practices, such as parental guidance and peer interactions, in shaping children’s sharing behaviors. Additionally, longitudinal research could track children’s sharing behaviors over time to better understand how these behaviors evolve throughout childhood and adolescence.