StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Definition of Prosocial Behavior - Term Paper Example

Cite this document
Summary
The paper "Definition of Prosocial Behavior" highlights that empathy and concern for the individual may oftentimes be the prime motivator, the fact of the matter is that egoism and practical concerns may also guide an individual to act in a prosocial manner…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER97.5% of users find it useful
Definition of Prosocial Behavior
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Definition of Prosocial Behavior"

The brief analysis will seek to lay out a series of definitions and motivators for the behavior and the single largest detractor to the behavior. Lastly, the analysis will seek to embrace the reader with the understanding that although the definitions that have herein been relayed are useful in helping to understand the broad applications of such sociological and psychological actualities, the fact remains that to come to grips with the more dynamically complex eventualities of these forces, one must bear in mind that both the individual and the situation itself add a level of complexity and nuance that a simple definition cannot seek to convey.

Naturally, prosocial behavior itself is not a guarantee within society. One of the reasons that prosocial behavior does not take place to a greater extent than it does already is due to something known as diffusion of responsibility. This unique psychological and sociological construct is built upon the ultimate premise that individuals will oftentimes seek to minimize their exposure to a given situation by pawning responsibility for a given set of events or circumstances onto someone else, refusing action as a function of stature within the given situation, or feel that action is needless because any number of other individuals faced with the same set of circumstances could also do the same thing.

Ultimately, these different conditions for diffusion of responsibility can all be traced back to how an individual views his/her role within the group or the circumstances in question (Sturmer et al 2005). Although they may easily recognize the right decision and that it should be made, the fact remains that based upon these aforementioned conditions, individuals may oftentimes be hesitant to act in the way that they otherwise would given a different dynamic in either of these conditions.

Examples of this type of impediment to prosocial behavior have been detailed within the course readings and are exhibited in any number of daily interactions that the reader might have (Safrilsyah et al 2009). Ultimately, the key understanding that at best helps to define the way that diffusion of responsibility works is that of self-interest. The concept of self-interest therefore runs in an opposite direction to that of prosocial behavior and diffusion of responsibility can motivate the individual to behave in an even more self-interested way than they otherwise might in any given situation.

Regarding the steps for pro-social behavior, this next section will seek to lay out each of these steps and give a level of definition to them. Firstly, the individual must “notice” the need (Piff et al 2010). This of course is an obvious step but perhaps one that requires a perceptive nature on the part of the individual. The second step involves a proper cognition of the event as “correct interpretation” follows. As a function of noticing and correctly interpreting a given situation or event, the individual must “assume responsibility”.

It is at this juncture that prosocial behavior most often breaks down (Latane et al 1968). Although it may be easy for most individuals to notice the situation and correctly interpret the need that is represented therein, oftentimes they are tempted not to act on it and rather just allow the aforementioned diffusion of responsibility to take place. This diffusion of responsibility is the ultimate culprit in reducing the amount of prosocial behavior that is exhibited in our current system. As this analysis has identified, the prime motivator that affects both prosocial behavior and its single largest detractor; is the diffusion of responsibility. As a means of understanding how both of these work within the constructs of the inter-personal and societal dynamics, one must always be mindful of the fact that although the definitions that have herein been provided are useful in providing a background of understanding for the realities of these constructs, the fact of the matter remains that the situation as well as the individuals involved, and their respective backgrounds, are the single largest determinant in seeking to understand how a given situation may unfold in the way it does. In such a manner, seeking to foist the conceptual definitions that have herein been derived onto complex and dynamic situations will not always yield a positive or effective understanding of events.

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Pro-social behavior See details Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words”, n.d.)
Pro-social behavior See details Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/psychology/1466897-pro-social-behavior-see-details
(Pro-Social Behavior See Details Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words)
Pro-Social Behavior See Details Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words. https://studentshare.org/psychology/1466897-pro-social-behavior-see-details.
“Pro-Social Behavior See Details Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/psychology/1466897-pro-social-behavior-see-details.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Definition of Prosocial Behavior

Biological Roots of Criminal Behavior

The paper "Biological Roots of Criminal behavior" discusses that criminology attempts to identify the causes of criminal behavior for the express purpose of preventing offending.... If criminology is accepted as a definitive explanation of criminal behavior, all hope for preventing offending is lost.... Biological factors must be looked upon as providing a partial explanation of criminal behavior, in very limited circumstances....
8 Pages (2000 words) Essay

Effects of Violent Video Games on Aggressive Behavior

According to the paper 'Effects of Violent Video Games on Aggressive behavior', video games were first introduced in the 1970s and had become a preferred childhood leisure activity.... Most of the games appropriate for these young players can bring a lot of benefits, but besides this, they raise violent features, gore, antisocial behavior among parents, educators, child advocates, medical professionals, and policymakers.... After habituating to that level they required a higher level of aggression to be aroused - from overexposure to aggression [Calvert, 1999], which presupposes the gamers' violent behavior in real life....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

The Psychology of Terrorism

The usual definition of terrorism is something like "the use or threat of violence, by small groups against non-combatants of large groups, for avowed political goals.... The key to this definition is the combination of small groups killing non-combatants.... This paper "The Psychology of Terrorism" presents a new perspective as to the understanding and analysis of terrorism, its participants, their beliefs and the psychological dimension of the same....
9 Pages (2250 words) Case Study

Troubling Short and Long-Term Violent Media Effects on Children

aggressive cognition, affect, and behavior), physiological arousal, or prosocial behaviour.... Anderson and Bushman conducted a meta-analysis on studies that investigated the impacts of playing video games on aggression, physiological arousal, or prosocial behaviour....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Psychological Study or Intervention Program Among School Children

Power can be abused; the exact definition of what constitutes abuse will depend on the social and cultural context, but if the abuse is systematic—repeated and deliberate—bullying seems a good name to describe it.... In this study, a qualitative study design has been employed to assess the extent of the bullying problem in a primary school 6-year class in the London Borough of Newham in a sample of 24 students and teachers and staff....
32 Pages (8000 words) Research Paper

The Influence of the Gut Bacteria on the Development of Brain

The paper "The Influence of the Gut Bacteria on the Development of Brain" presents behavior and brain development.... This paper will address the neurological factors and how they relate to criminal behavior.... This paper takes a look at the theory and how it impacts the study of criminal behavior in general and goes on to provides further evidence on the link between social behavior and microbial organisms.... he bacteria that often inhibit our intestines- the normal gut flora; have a significant impact on the development of the human brain and subsequent behavior as adults....
5 Pages (1250 words) Research Proposal

Negative Influences of Violent Media

Aggression is the behavior is expected by the perpetrator to have some chance of actually harming that individual (Anderson & Bushman, 2002).... Situational input variables such as recent exposure to violent media influence aggressive behavior through its impact on the person's present internal state, represented by cognitive, affective, and arousal variables (Carnagey)....
8 Pages (2000 words) Essay

The Gratitude Questionnaire

As part of the study, a definition of the 6 Gratitude questionnaires will be forwarded with the aim of understanding the differences.... ltruistic pro-social behavior is described as providing voluntary assistance stemming from one's concern for others.... The question of whether altruistic behavior actually exists has been a contentious issue among scholars as there is a school of thought that argues to the contrary (Carlo & Randall, 2002).... All the same, those in support of the existence of altruistic behavior have forwarded 3 lines of evidence....
6 Pages (1500 words) Lab Report
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us