New research from our Psychology Department has found that the way parents' guide their babies plays a key role in how helping behaviour develops, with clear differences across cultures.
Tracking infant behaviour
The study, published in Developmental Psychology, followed 273 infants and their mothers in the United Kingdom, rural Uganda, and urban Uganda.
Researchers examined how babies begin to help others and how parents support this behaviour in everyday situations.
Infants were observed in two types of tasks. One measured spontaneous helping, where no instructions were given. The other involved mothers encouraging their children to complete simple tasks, such as putting objects away.
This allowed researchers to compare how children behave independently and how they respond to parental guidance.
Different parenting styles across cultures
The findings revealed distinct differences in how parents encourage helping.
In both Ugandan settings, mothers were more likely to use direct and firm instructions, a style known as 'assertive scaffolding'.
In contrast, mothers in the United Kingdom tended to use gentler methods, including encouragement, explanations, and offering choices, referred to as 'deliberate scaffolding'.
These approaches reflect broader cultural values. In Uganda, helping is often expected from an early age and linked to shared responsibilities in daily life.
In the UK, helping is more commonly framed as a personal choice, with a stronger focus on independence.
Clear guidance linked to more helping
The study found that assertive scaffolding was associated with higher levels of helping behaviour.
Infants whose mothers used clear and direct instructions were more likely to help both when asked and spontaneously.
Despite cultural differences, the research highlights a shared human trait that babies everywhere show the ability to help others.
The study underlines the importance of examining child development across diverse cultural settings to better understand how cooperation and social behaviour emerge.
