Relationships and Effects of Self-Serving Cognitive Distortions and Emotional Intelligence on Adolescent Prosocial Behavior

Background: Self-serving cognitive distortions and emotional intelligence (EI) have been extensively studied. However, research examining their influence on prosocial behavior remains limited. This study aimed to analyze the differences, relationships, and effects of, self-serving cognitive distortions and EI on prosocial behavior. Methods: A total of 444 Colombian students aged 14 to 18 years (mean [M] = 15.66, standard deviation [SD] = 1.24) participated in the study. Self-serving cognitive distortions, self-perceived EI, and prosocial behavior were assessed. Descriptive, comparative, correlational, and predictive analyses were performed using SPSS Version 25. Results: Gender differences were observed in self-serving cognitive distortions, EI, and prosocial behavior. Prosocial behavior was positively associated with EI and negatively related to self-serving cognitive distortions. Predictive analyses indicated that female gender and younger age were associated with higher prosocial behavior. Self-serving cognitive distortions demonstrated weak predictive effects, whereas emotional repair emerged as the strongest predictor of prosocial behavior. Conclusions: Higher EI and fewer self-serving cognitive distortions are associated with greater prosocial behavior. Future research should evaluate the benefits of intervention on prosocial behavior, EI skills, and cognitive distortions through cognitive and behavioral interventions.