The Developmental Roots of Social Responsibility in Childhood and Adolescence
Document Type
Article
Department
Behavioral and Organizational Sciences (CGU)
Publication Date
2011
Disciplines
Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Abstract
Social responsibility is a value orientation, rooted in democratic relationships with others and moral principles of care and justice, that motivates certain civic actions. Given its relevance for building stronger relationships and communities, the development of social responsibility within individuals should be a more concerted focus for developmental scholars and youth practitioners. During childhood and adolescence, the developmental roots of individuals' social responsibility lie in the growth of executive function, empathy and emotion regulation, and identity. Efforts to cultivate children and adolescents' social responsibility in the proximal settings of their everyday lives should emphasize modeling prosocial behaviors, communicating concerns for others, and creating opportunities to practice civic skills. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Rights Information
© 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., A Wiley Company
Terms of Use & License Information
DOI
10.1002/cd.308
Recommended Citation
Wray-Lake, L. and Syvertsen, A. K. (2011), The developmental roots of social responsibility in childhood and adolescence. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 2011: 11–25. doi: 10.1002/cd.308
