Prosocial behavior benefits others and society, but may not always be altruistic. It is of interest to psychologists and sociologists, and is encouraged from a young age. The causes of prosocial behavior include self-image, social esteem, and social obligation.
Prosocial behavior is, in a very broad sense, any behavior that benefits the well-being of others and of society as a whole. In examining such behavior, the emphasis is typically on the actions rather than the motivations behind them. While altruism refers to helping others without regard for the benefit to oneself, prosocial behavior refers only to action that benefits others. An action can be prosocial but not altruistic if the acting individual acts to help others because of the benefits to themselves. Such behavior, particularly when altruistic, is of great interest to psychologists and sociologists because it can be very difficult to explain, based on traditional social and psychological concepts.
Many social scientists and psychologists find prosocial behavior to be a particularly interesting issue in their fields of study, as it cannot always be easily understood simply by examining one’s motivations or selfish interests. Prosocial behavior is widespread in human society despite the fact that, in many cases, it provides little direct benefit to the individual acting for the welfare of others. Many religious, political and social institutions around the world strongly promote and support such behavior. Individuals not associated with such groups also often choose to act in a socially beneficial manner, even if they are not expected to due to affiliation with a prosocial group.
One theory about the underlying causes of prosocial behavior concerns self-image. People are believed to act in a way that they feel is good and beneficial to society because it gives them a personal sense of accomplishment and enhances their self-esteem. Another possibility is that those who exhibit prosocial behavior do so with a desire to acquire greater social esteem among their peers. However, there can be little doubt that some people act purely altruistically without expecting a reward; many psychologists and social scientists still find these people puzzling.
The development of prosocial behavior tends to be socially encouraged from an early age. Children are encouraged to share and help other people in their families and schools. Positive social behavior, therefore, is often closely connected to the ideas of right and wrong in a child’s mind. This leads to another common cause of prosocial behavior: social obligation. Many of the prosocial activities people engage in are directly related to feelings of responsibility toward one’s family, friends, co-workers, or others.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
