Beyond the Selfish Child

Understanding children's morality is crucial for grasping the essence of human
nature. Many theological and philosophical perspectives have portrayed children as
inherently selfish or as blank slates, with morality imposed externally through teaching
and discipline. This paper challenges these views by drawing on recent empirical
work in developmental psychology informed by an evolutionary perspective. This
research reveals that young children engage in prosocial behaviors such as helping
and sharing, which are often intrinsically motivated. They also display early emerging
prosocial emotions, including sympathy, guilt, and gratitude, that further support
and sustain their cooperation. Together, these recent advances in developmental
science suggest that morality is not merely a cultural acquisition or late developmental
achievement but rather an early, foundational aspect of human psychology. We
conclude by discussing the implications of these insights for our understanding of
human nature and the roots of morality and cooperation.