Decoding Childhood Decision-Making: the Role of Mentalization, Personality Traits, and Empathy in School-Age Children

Prosocial decision-making, characterized by behaviors aimed at benefit- ing others, is a critical component of social development in childhood. This study explores the interplay between Mentalization (i.e, Theory of Mind and empathy), and personality traits in influencing fairness and al- truism in school-aged children. Using decision-making tasks such as the Ultimatum Game (UG) and Dictator Game (DG), alongside assessments of cognitive abilities and personality dimensions, the study examines how mentalization and socio-emotional factors shape children’s decisions. Results indicate significant relationships between empathy, ToM, and prosocial outcomes, offering insights into the mechanisms underpinning fairness and altruism during childhood development.