On September 12, Sophie Sweijen successfully defended her PhD dissertation entitled “The Power of Prosociality: How Adolescents Contribute to Their Social Environment.”

In her dissertation, Sweijen examined the development of prosocial behaviors during adolescence, which are behaviors that benefit others, such as helping, sharing, comforting, or donating to charitable causes. She investigated the underlying behavioral and neural mechanisms of different dimensions of prosocial behavior.

Her research highlights three key insights. First, adolescent prosocial behavior extends beyond close social circles, such as friends, and can also be directed toward broader societal goals. Second, prosocial behavior undergoes qualitative changes during adolescence, which are not only related to chronological age but are also strongly linked to pubertal development. Third, helping others, particularly through everyday and small acts, can also have positive effects on adolescents’ own wellbeing.

Sophie continues her research as a postdoctoral researcher within the PRAATPOWER project, a collaborative initiative between MIND Us and YoungXperts. The project facilitates societal dialogues with young people and aims to translate scientific insights into innovative “take actions” that empower youth and support their mental health.

Promotors: Eveline Crone, Suzanne van de Groep and Lysanne te Brinke

You can find an interview with Sophie regarding her dissertation here.