Prosocial behavior is an act of helping people. It can also be described as empathy, and it is a feeling for others. When people are willing to assist people, or intentionally trying to care for others, it is a behavior called Prosocial behavior.
Human beings have the nature of helping people, showing concerns, and assisting others when they are in a situation. This habit doesn’t just come that way, it is a behavior. Some examples of this behavior are helping, sharing things, Volunteering to assist people, devoting time to those who need attention, volunteering as a team or an individual, and also being in cooperation in the company among the team to achieve a goal.
Prosocial Behavior emerged during the 1970s, by some social scientists, according to C. Daniel Batson. It was introduced as an antonym for antisocial behavior. Antisocial behavior means not caring for people, this kind of people are easily prone to go against the norms of society. They are often aggressive and engage in theft.
Prosocial behavior can be in a group of people who come together to help society by helping those who are in need, putting themselves in their shoes, and proffering possible solutions where possible. An individual with such behavior is motivated in helping and show concern for people. Prosocial behavior aims to maintain positive social relationships and also to build or foster social adjustments.
In doing something for others, the giver gains in different ways. Every behavior has the benefits it does to an individual and this is why it will be explained better in the next post.
TYPES OF PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOR
PROACTIVE: This kind of action is done for selfish reasons alone. There are people with this behavior who only show kindness to people just to be popular. They want to be praised for their actions and seen in public.
REACTIVE: This action is done based on what an individual needs. This kind of person only dances to people's tune whenever they come to them for help. A person who comes for help concerning his feeding will only be helped in that area.
ALTRUISTIC: This action is done to help others without expecting anything in return from those they have helped. Some help in expectations that they will be blessed not by men, but by God. This kind of person does it willingly and out of love and sympathy/empathy. They don't show concern just to be given back.
BENEFITS OF PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOR
1. Mood-Boosting Effects: A person with Prosocial behavior tends towards being in a good mood always. When you give or care for someone, there is this feeling of happiness in you that you have helped someone out of the problem. Such a person's mood will be boosted with no sadness attached to it.
2. Social Support Benefits: An individual who gives tends to have many friends and people around him or her. Let's take for example when you keep giving or helping someone, such a person would want to tell others, and before you know it, you found yourself among happy people who want to be your friend.
They become happy seeing you around them. A person with Prosocial behavior can never remain lonely or bored because some are always happy to be around such a person.
3. Stress-reducing effects: Prosocial behavior reduces stress in a person. There are some times you feel tired or stressed, and you find yourself becoming so weak. But when you have this kind of behavior in you, it reduces the stress and makes you agile in things you do. There won't be any form of depression.
Something must have prompt this behavior and wouldn't just emerge without noticing it in people's behavior. Psychologists tried to find the reasons why people have this kind of behavior and 4 of the reasons will be explained below:
CAUSES OF PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOR
EVOLUTIONARY INFLUENCES
People have the belief of training their generation on the good side of life, just to help them in the future. Those who act good leave this action to their next kin so that when they die, their children will also extend such act to their generation and it goes on from generation to generation.
PERSONAL BENEFITS
Right from time, people act good for egoistic reasons, by protecting their self-image and also to make people return their favor. This is likened to self-interest. Take for example, someone offering to donate huge amount of money and also ask in return for something to be made his or her own. If it isn't allowed, he collects his money back, but if such request is granted, both parties has benefited from themselves. That is called Personal benefits or Self-interest.
RECIPROCAL BEHAVIOR
Researchers found out that when a good habit is done, and others also engage in such activities, it increases reproduction and helps people to survive. This is an act of reciprocity according to Psychologists.
SOCIALIZATION
In those days, the old ones show concern to people and make sure their children also act in such as they are growing up. They encourage their children to show love, concern, and feelings for themselves instead of showing hatred or lack of empathy to others. They believed when children are taught this, they will be happy and have good social interaction with their mates outside the environment.
Thank you for reading through and I hope to keep doing my best daily.
I practiced being generous recently, through my earnings in read.cash. It feels satisfying and making me happy. This is very right. :)