Impact of violence on the formation of children's social preferences in the Sahel region of Africa

Impact of violence on the formation of children's social preferences in the Sahel region of Africa

Prosociality affects a wide range of socio-economic decisions and outcomes across a multitude of cultures, contributing to smooth relationships, social cohesion, citizenship building and cooperation among members of society. The origins of prosociality, such as other-regarding preferences and concern for fairness, emerge at a young age and are shaped by the norms, values, and culture of the local environment. However, this process can be disrupted by exposure to violence during childhood, which may not only hamper the formation of prosocial preferences but also favor the formation of antisocial preferences, with potentially long-term negative consequences on the propensity for cooperation, trust, and concern for social efficiency. While few studies have investigated the impact of violence exposure, there is a dearth of systematic research outside wealthy, Western cultural contexts. This research study will be conducted in Burkina Faso — a location that, according to UN news, is one of the world’s fastest-growing humanitarian and protection crises, with five percent of the population displaced.

Supporting mechanism: UChicago-CNRS PhD Joint Programme

Active dates: July 1, 2024-June 30, 2026