Relinquishing Control Associates With Prosociality and Provides Agency and Positive Affect in Adolescents

Abstract: Across two studies with adolescent samples, we investigated whether expressing abdication could be classified as a form of prosocial behavior. Specifically, Study 1 investigated the link between expressing abdication and the initiator’s prosociality. The results demonstrated a positive correlation between the frequency of abdication and well-established indicators of prosociality, such as social mindfulness, agreeableness, empathic concern, and social value orientation. Study 2 investigated whether expressing abdication provides positive consequences – regarding agency and positive affect – for the receivers. The results revealed that participants experienced a significantly stronger sense of agency and positive affect after receiving high-frequency abdication compared to low-frequency abdication. Our findings provide support for the idea that expressing abdication can be classified as a prosocial behavior.