The Role of Cultural Diversity in Adolescents' Theory of Mind (ToM) and Prosociality: A Review of the Literature

Adolescence is a significant development period characterized by advances in cognitive abilities and evolving social relationships. A central skill that emerges is theory of mind, the ability to understand others’ thoughts, feelings and intentions, which underpins prosocial behaviors, such as empathy, cooperation, and helping. As cultural diversity becomes increasingly prominent in educational settings, adolescents' daily interactions in schools offer critical opportunities to practice mindreading and mentalization skills and to foster inclusive, prosocial behavior. This literature review systematically synthesizes findings from 19 empirical studies across diverse regions to examine how cultural exposure, values, and socialization practices influence adolescents’ ability to understand others’ mental states and engage in prosocial actions. Findings indicate that multicultural exposure, such as attending ethnically diverse schools or forming cross-ethnic friendships, is consistently associated with stronger perspective-taking and empathy. Cross-cultural comparisons further show that cultural values channel the meaning and outcomes of prosociality, with collectivist contexts emphasizing duty-based helping and individualist contexts framing it as personal choice or leadership. Moderating factors such as gender, socioeconomic status, and spirituality also emerged as influential. While most studies were school-based and cross-sectional, limiting causal conclusions and generalizability beyond studied regions, the synthesis highlights consistent benefits of inclusive and diverse environments. Practical and policy implications include fostering culturally responsive practices in schools and families, alongside interventions that reinforce positive identity and intergroup contact. Integrating cultural perspectives is therefore essential for a comprehensive understanding of adolescent social-cognitive development and prosocial behavior.