Which of the following is a predictor of individual differences in pro-social behavior?

• A. Genes
• B. Experience
• C. Positive reinforcement
• D. Parental attachment

Answer: (A)

Genes influence how strongly a person tends to be prosocial, because inherited differences shape temperament, empathy, and social motivation. Evidence from twin and family studies shows that identical twins, who share more genetic material, resemble each other more in prosocial tendencies than fraternal twins, even when raised in similar environments. This indicates a genetic contribution to why people differ from one another in helping, sharing, and cooperating.

Of course, environment matters a lot too. Experiences, positive reinforcement, and parental attachment all shape how prosocial tendencies develop and express themselves. But when we’re looking at why people differ in prosocial behavior across the population, genetic variation provides a key predictor, with environment and learning modifying how those tendencies are expressed.