Voluntary actions that are intended to help or benefit another individual or group of individuals

Prosocial behavior assgnmnt

Introduction

Prosocial behaviour is described as a voluntary behaviour in order to benefit someone else (Eisenberg & Fabes, 1998). This prosocial behaviour such as sharing, helping, sympathy and empathy form an important part of the social interactions between individuals and groups and has thus been studied in terms of where these behaviours come from. To illustrate Eisenberg and Fabes' quote (1998, pg 742) that prosocial behaviour is an outcome of a combination of many factors, five different possible causes of these behaviours will now be discussed.

Biological Determinants:

Research has shown that biological determinants do play some role in the individual differences in prosocial behaviour and empathic concern (Eisenberg & Fabes, 1998). Evidence for this includes the following:(a) animals which display some helping and sharing behaviours, (b) identical twins who tend to score higher than fraternal twins on correlation of these behaviours, (c) 1- and 2-day old babies who will cry if another baby cries, (d) the limbic system being involved in empathy and (d) evolution which has shown that these behaviours are widespread in humans, and that these behaviours are common even in children. There tends to be a significant genetic component in the early years, as studies have showed children of 14 month and 20 months having significant genetic contributions to prosocial behaviour (Eisenberg & Fabes, 1998).

Cultural Factors:

Different types of research have been performed investigating the role of culture in the development of prosocial behaviour. Some research has shown differences but others have not. This may be due to the fact that there are different cultural values and norms to compare, e.g. certain cultures place importance on different types of prosocial actions such as responding when asked and not asked. Moral reasoning is different across cultures which also making research difficult. Braten (1996) showed that...

What is the nature of helping behaviour?

Helping behavior refers to voluntary actions intended to help the others, with reward regarded or disregarded. It is a type of prosocial behavior (voluntary action intended to help or benefit another individual or group of individuals, such as sharing, comforting, rescuing and helping).

What are the five components of a helping behavior?

Such behaviors may come in many guises: helping an individual in need; sharing personal resources; volunteering time, effort, and expertise; cooperating with others to achieve some common goals.

What are three types of helpful behavior?

I will argue that within the general domain of prosocial behavior, other-oriented actions can be categorized into three distinct types (helping, sharing, and comforting) that reflect responses to three distinct negative states (instrumental need, unmet material desire, and emotional distress).

What is the helping theory?

The helping behaviour is a concept in social psychology which believes that a person voluntarily gives assistance to others, without regard as to whether a reward is expected in return or not.

Why do we help?

Helping others is not only good for them and a good thing to do, it also makes us happier and healthier too. Giving also connects us to others, creating stronger communities and helping to build a happier society for everyone. And it’s not all about money – we can also give our time, ideas and energy.

How can we improve our help?

Top 5 Ways to Increase Helping

1. Notice help is needed. This goes both ways.
2. Realize when help is needed. If it’s an emergency, let people know it.
3. Take personal responsibility for helping. Ignore what other people do.
4. Make a decision to help. Think of this as the step between you wanting to help and you actually helping.

What factors influence helping?

Although emotional responses such as guilt, personal distress, and empathy are important determinants of altruism, it is the social situation itself—the people around us when we are deciding whether or not to help—that has perhaps the most important influence on whether and when we help.

What is helping in psychology?

Definition. Helping behavior is providing aid or benefit to another person. It does not matter what the motivation of the helper is, only that the recipient is assisted. This is distinguished from the more general term prosocial behavior, which can include any cooperative or friendly behavior.

What is an example of helping behavior?

People often act to benefit other people, and these acts are examples of prosocial behavior. Such behaviors may come in many guises: helping an individual in need; sharing personal resources; volunteering time, effort, and expertise; cooperating with others to achieve some common goals.

What are the four theories of helping behavior?

Contact Hypothesis: bringing enemies together increases understanding. Equity Theory: we are happiest when give and take are equal. Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis: if we feel empathy we are likely to help. Identifiable Victim Effect: Empathizing with one more than many.

How can we increase helping behavior?

What are the four common reasons for helping?

10 benefits of helping others

• Helping others feels good.
• It creates a sense of belonging.
• It gives you a sense of purpose.
• Giving helps keep things in perspective.
• It’s contagious.
• Helping others can help you live longer.
• It will give you a sense of renewal.
• You’ll boost your self-esteem.

Which concept refers to voluntary actions intended to benefit another individual?

What is a voluntary behavior with the intent to help other people?

What is another name for helping behavior?

What is meant by prosocial behavior?