UC Irvine

The purpose of this dissertation was to test whether empathic concern and prosociality could be enhanced in children and adolescents, especially those exposed to violence, by increasing their awareness of others’ emotions. The first study (N = 251; 51% male; 58% Latinx) tested whether an emotion labeling manipulation designed to increase children’s and adolescents’ (M = 11.92, SD = 3.27; range: 6-17 years) awareness of sadness in others led to increases in their empathic concern and generosity toward an anonymous peer with whom they were not directly interacting. The second study (N = 148; 47% male; 63% Latinx) employed a social exclusion paradigm to test whether feedback from a peer regarding their sad or angry emotional state increased adolescents’ (M = 13.70, SD = 2.85; range 8-17 years) empathic concern and compensatory prosocial responding when observing that peer being excluded during a presumed social interaction. In both studies, samples included youth varying in their exposure to violence (Study 1 included youth who experienced substantiated maltreatment and non-maltreated comparison youth; Study 2 included youth who had varied exposure to family and community violence) to assess whether such exposure altered the effects of the manipulations on youth empathy and prosociality. Findings across the two studies suggest that by increasing children’s and adolescents’ awareness of sadness in others, including those exposed to violence, it is possible to enhance their prosociality toward others and to some extent their empathic concern for others. More broadly, the findings provide new insight into the potential for positive capacities in violence-exposed children and adolescents and may provide direction for policy and practice aimed at promoting prosocial development in high-risk populations.