In a new study conducted at the University of Haifa's Faculty of Education, researchers discovered that preschool-aged children who demonstrate fearless behavior may have less empathy and more aggression toward their peers.

The team observed 80 children between the ages of three and four, along with their parents and preschool teachers. They monitored the kids' tendency for fearless behavior, as well as their social and emotional characteristics during a one-year period.

The heart rate of children who displayed a high level of fearlessness was found to be slower than that of their more timid peers. Additionally, fearless children were less empathetic toward their classmates and showed high levels of aggression. These kids were more likely to take advantage of their friends and feel a lack of guilt after doing something they knew to be socially unacceptable.

"Since fearless behavior correlates with genetic and neurological characteristics, it is important to find the most effective ways to assist these children in developing the ability to recognize and value social prohibitions," the research team concluded.

Children and teens who experience difficulty in initiating and maintaining healthy relationships with peers may benefit from the education and guidance that wilderness camps can provide.