Prosocial Behaviour – Psychology – UGC NET – Notes

Introduction

Pro-social behaviour is defined as “…any act performed with the goal of benefiting another person” (Aronson, Wilson, & Akert, 2004, p. 382). It may sometimes be difficult to differentiate the meaning, motivation, or consequences between small acts like a ten rupees donation to charity and more serious actions such as rescuing a drowning child. This topic is not limited to a single discipline; rather, it is studied by psychologists, philosophers, economists, sociobiologists, and others, each offering distinct and sometimes conflicting perspectives.

Prosocial actions are voluntary behaviours carried out with the intention of helping others. This definition also considers the potential benefits to the person performing the act. In this unit, we focus on aspects such as noticing emergencies, understanding what actions to take in such situations, and making decisions to provide help. Such helping behaviour is influenced by several factors, including the physical attractiveness of the person in need, similarity between individuals, and whether the person belongs to one’s kin or relatives.

Pro-Social Behavior

Definition and Description

Staub (1979) defined pro-social behaviour as voluntary behaviour intended to benefit another person. The term “voluntary” highlights the spontaneous initiative of the actor, in contrast to professional help (such as that provided by physicians or nurses). Pro-social behaviour may include actions like helping, sharing, giving, and comforting (Bierhoff, 2002). It is also defined as “…any act performed with the goal of benefiting another person” (Aronson, Wilson, & Akert, 2004, p. 382). It can sometimes be difficult to distinguish between different forms of prosocial acts, such as a small donation to charity and a more serious act like rescuing a drowning child.

Many researchers have tried to narrow this broad concept by focusing on specific aspects such as altruism versus self-interest, long-term helping versus one-time acts, personality variables versus situational factors, and the origins of empathy.

Pro-social behaviour is not confined to a single discipline. Psychologists, philosophers, economists, sociobiologists, and others have offered diverse and sometimes conflicting viewpoints. As Kohn points out, the concept is so broad that it can become ambiguous in meaning.

According to Eisenberg and Fabes (1998), pro-social behaviour consists of voluntary actions intended to benefit others, while also considering potential benefits to the person performing the act. However, behaviours that appear helpful but are primarily driven by self-interest (such as cooperation aimed at gaining a shared resource) are generally not considered truly prosocial.

Typical examples of pro-social behaviour include volunteering, sharing toys or food with friends, providing instrumental help (such as assisting a peer with schoolwork), offering costly help (like risking one’s life to save others), and giving emotional support (such as comforting someone in distress or caring for an ill person).