Prosocial behavior refers to voluntary actions that benefit others or society, such as helping, sharing, and cooperating. It is central to healthy social groups and is motivated by empathy. Research on prosocial behavior originated with studies on bystander effects during crimes and emergencies. Current research examines biological, motivational, cognitive, and social factors influencing prosocial acts through theories like empathy-altruism, negative state relief, kin selection, and reciprocal altruism. Volunteering has been associated with benefits to happiness and health.

1. PROSOCIAL
BEHAVIOR

2.  What is Pro Social Behavior?
 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
 It is central to the well-being of social groups
across a range of scales
 empathy is also the most important factor
leading to pro social behavior

3.  Attention to prosocial behavior in psychology
originated with McDougall (1908), who argued
that prosocial
 behavior is the result of “tender emotions”
created by the parental instinct, but
 most current research has its roots in lay and
scientific reactions to the nonresponsive
bystanders in the brutal murder of Katherine
“Kitty” Genovese in 1964.

4. Bystander effect?
 The term bystander effect refers to the
phenomenon in which the greater the number
of people present, the less likely people are to
help a person in distress. When an emergency
situation occurs, observers are more likely to
take action if there are few or no other
witnesses

5.  It has now evolved to encompass a broad
range of biological, motivational, cognitive, and
social processes

6. Why do we help?
 Internal factors
 External factors

7. Theories on Prosocial Behavior
1. Empathy-Altruism
actions may be motivated by empathy –
capacity to recognize emotions that are being
experienced by another sentient or fictional
being
Altruism: Behavior that reflects an unselfish
concern for the welfare of others

8. 2. Negative state Relief model
 human beings have an innate drive to reduce
negative moods
 negative mood increases helpfulness because
helping others can reduce one's own bad
feelings (Baumann, Cialdini, & Kenrick, 1981).

9. 3. Kin selection theory
 Kin selection is an evolutionary theory that
proposes that people are more likely to help
those who are blood relatives because it will
increase the odds of gene transmission to
future generations

10. 4. Reciprocal Altruism
 altruism can be favored as long as the altruist
receives a reciprocal benefit that is greater
than its initial cost.

11. Volunteering
 Have you ever volunteered before?

12.  Biological benefits of Volunteering (Video)
 happiness and health have consistently
found a strong connection through
volunteering
 a conscious focus on gratitude led to
reductions in negative affect and increases
in optimistic appraisals, positive affect,
offering emotional support, sleep quality,
and well-being
 Happier people are also naturally kinder

13.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEyyVQga3
jM

14.  Thank you