Voluntary actions intended to benefit others

Prosocial behavior refers to actions that are done voluntarily with the intention of helping others

Empathy and moral obligation as motivators

Empathy

Prosocial behavior can be motivated by empathy, which is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others

Moral obligation

Prosocial behavior can also be motivated by a moral obligation to act for the welfare of others

Different forms of prosocial behavior

Prosocial behavior can take the form of cooperation, where both the actor and recipient benefit, or pure altruism, where the actor receives no benefit

Selfless concern for others

Altruism specifically refers to selfless concern for the well-being of others, often at a cost to oneself

Examples of altruistic and prosocial behavior

Altruistic behavior

Donating blood to an unknown recipient is an example of altruistic behavior

Prosocial behavior

Collaboration on a team project is an example of prosocial behavior

Importance of understanding the distinction

Recognizing the difference between altruism and prosocial behavior is crucial for understanding motivations and effects on social relationships

Need to belong

Baumeister and Leary's theory suggests that the need to belong motivates individuals to engage in prosocial behavior

Self-categorization

According to self-categorization theory, people are more likely to act prosocially towards those they perceive as part of their own group

Social approval and disapproval

The desire for social approval and fear of disapproval can drive prosocial behavior

Evolutionary psychology

Evolutionary psychology suggests that prosocial behavior may have evolved as advantageous for survival in a cooperative group setting

Bystander effect

The bystander effect is a phenomenon where individuals are less likely to offer help when others are present

Diffusion of responsibility

The diffusion of responsibility, where each bystander assumes someone else will intervene, can decrease the likelihood of personal responsibility and intervention

Social context

The decision to engage in prosocial behavior is heavily influenced by social context, including the perceived cost of intervening and social norms

Dispositional factors

Personal characteristics, such as skills, perceived similarity to the victim, and personality traits, can significantly influence an individual's propensity for prosocial behavior

Piliavin et al.'s subway experiment

Piliavin et al.'s experiment revealed that bystanders are more likely to assist individuals they perceive as deserving of help, highlighting the role of victim characteristics and bystander judgments in the decision to intervene