Two technological applications to promote prosocial behavior in adolescents and children

The purpose of this project is to promote prosocial behavior in children and adolescents in 5 Latin American countries (Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay), through the use of two technological programs called "Hero" and "Little Hero".

"Hero" and "Little Hero" are currently two prototypes designed by Mesurado, Distefano, and Robiolo (2016) to promote prosocial behavior, including the virtues of empathy, gratitude, forgiveness, positive emotions, and actions intended to benefit others. This project will update the program's prototypes and study their effectiveness in five different Latin American countries.

The intervention sample will include 1500 adolescents aged 12 to 15 years participating in "Hero" and 750 children aged 8 to 11 years participating in "Little Hero," of both sexes (300 adolescents and 150 children per country). The control sample (adolescents and children who will not receive the interventions) will include 1500 adolescents and 750 children of similar age to the intervention sample and of both sexes (300 adolescents and 150 children per country). We will study the effectiveness of the intervention using a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design.

The importance of this project lies in the fact that promoting prosocial behaviors benefits individual functioning and fosters interpersonal relationships. At an individual level, studies show that prosocial behavior promotes the acceptance and integration of diversity, protects against maladaptive behavior, and intensifies a sense of transcendence, enhancing the meaning of one's own existence. At a social level, it is positively correlated with the development of social skills, promoting community integration and psychosocial adjustment in children and adolescents, as well as inhibiting aggressive behaviors.