#5/a/b prosocial behaviour in response to social influence

Prosocial behaviour

• Prosocial behaviour is any behaviour intended to help or benefit another person, group or society.

• These voluntary actions promote social acceptance.

• benefits for the helper:

  • Mood boosting

  • impact on many aspects of wellness

  • mitigate the negative emotional effects of stress.

factors influencing prosocial behaviour

our desire to help is influenced by social norms.

Social norms are the unwritten rules of beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours that are considered acceptable in a particular social group or culture.

• reciprocity principle

• social responsibility

• personal characteristics (empathy, mood, competence, altruism)

factors influencing prosocial behaviour reciprocity principle

• Reciprocity is a social norm where, if someone does something for you, you then feel obligated to return the favour.

• By reciprocating, we ensure that other people receive help when they need it and that we receive assistance when we need it.

• The returned favour does not need to be similar in nature.

factors influencing prosocial behaviour social responsibility

• We should help those who need help because it is our responsibility or duty to do so.

• Those with a higher level of social responsibility perform more prosocial behaviours

factors influencing prosocial behaviour personal characteristics

• Empathy

• Mood

• Competence

• altruism

personal characteristics empathy

• Empathy is the ability to sense and share the thoughts or feelings of another person.

• We are more likely to help someone in need of help if we feel empathy for them.

personal characteristics mood

• good mood increases helping,

• we are less likely to act in a positive way when in a bad mood.

personal characteristics competence

• people with abilities or training that are relevant to a situation in which help is required are more likely to help.

• Our actual or perceived ability to help can influence whether or not we help, as well as the type of help we may offer

personal characteristics altruism

• It is where an individual helps another person or group without expecting any personal gain or benefit.

• This form of helping behaviour is typically selfless and motivated by a genuine concern for others' well-being.

• While all altruistic acts are prosocial, not all prosocial behaviours are completely altruistic.

  • Unselfishness: The helper does not anticipate any reward or recognition.

  • Motivation: driven by empathy, compassion, or moral principles.

  • Risk or Cost: can sometimes involve personal risk, effort, or sacrifice

#5b Helping as prosocial behaviour

• Helping is a voluntary action that helps others. It is:

  • Intentional

  • Beneficial

  • Socially constructive

• Why help?

  • Biological explanation more likely to help others like us strengthen the gene pool increase chances of survival

  • Altruistic feeling empathy

  • Selfish increase one’s own mood or self-image ‘reciprocal altruism’

  • Learnt behaviour taught to children reinforced through childhood