This document discusses prosocial behavior and its history. It defines prosocial behavior as voluntary actions that benefit others, such as helping, sharing, and volunteering. The history of psychology as an academic field studying the mind dates back to ancient Greece, though evidence of psychological thought exists in ancient Egypt. Branches of modern psychology are discussed, as are reasons for and types of prosocial behavior, differences between prosocial behavior and altruism, and the bystander effect.
2. INTRODUCTION
VOLUNTARY BEHAVIOR INTENDED TO BENEFIT ANOTHER, CONSISTS OF ACTIONS
WHICH BENEFIT OTHER PEOPLE OR SOCIETY AS A WHOLE, SUCH AS HELPING,
SHARING, DONATING, CO-OPERATING, AND VOLUNTEERING
3. HISTORY
• THE HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY AS A SCHOLARLY STUDY OF THE MIND AND
BEHAVIOR DATES BACK TO THE ANCIENT GREEKS. THERE IS ALSO EVIDENCE OF
PSYCHOLOGICAL THOUGHT IN ANCIENT EGYPT. PSYCHOLOGY WAS A BRANCH
OF PHILOSOPHY UNTIL THE 1870S, WHEN IT DEVELOPED AS AN INDEPENDENT
SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINE IN GERMANY AND THE UNITED STATES.
• G. STANLEY HALL BROUGHT SCIENTIFIC PEDAGOGY TO THE UNITED STATES
FROM GERMANY IN THE EARLY 1880’S.
• IN THE 1890S, HUGO MÜNSTERBERG BEGAN WRITING ABOUT THE APPLICATION
OF PSYCHOLOGY TO INDUSTRY, LAW, AND OTHER FIELDS
4. BRANCHES OF PSYCHOLOGY
• ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY
• FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY
• HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
• PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY
• SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
• COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
5. REASONS WHY PEOPLE ENGAGE IN PROSOCIAL
BEHAVIOR
• SELF INTEREST
• SOCIAL STATUS
• CONFORMITY
• ALTRUISM
6. ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR
• DOING SOMETHING BAD TO SOMEONE OR SOCIETY
• DAMAGES RELATIONSHIP
• INTERFERING WITH SOCIETY’S FUNCTIONING
8. DIFFERENCE IN
BEHAVIOR
PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOR
IN PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOR EVEN THOUGH IT IS HELPING ANOTHER THERE IS A
CHANCE OF GAINING INTRINSIC OR EXTRINSIC REWARD.
ALTRUISM
IN ALTRUISM, THE HELPER DOES NOT EXPECT ANYTHING IN RETURN, SO IT IS
ONLY BENEFICIAL TO THE PERSON IN NEED AND SOCIETY AT LARGE.
THE BYSTANDER EFFECT
REFERS TO CASES IN WHICH INDIVIDUALS DO NOT OFFER ANY MEANS OF HELP TO
A VICTIM WHEN OTHER PEOPLE ARE PRESENT.
