What the World Needs Now: An Intervention for Promoting Prosocial Behavior

2019/07/04 by Rachel Baumsteiger
Arts and Humanities · Psychology · #Behavioral Health and Interventions #Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression #Media Influence and Health

paper · doi:10.1080/01973533.2019.1639507

openalex publication_date 2019/07/04 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

Prosocial behavior benefits individuals and society. Thus, the purpose of this study was to develop a new, integrative intervention for fostering prosocial behavior. The intervention combines activities such as watching an elevating video, enacting prosocial behaviors, and reflecting on how those behaviors relate to one’s values. An experiment with 116 adolescents and young adults indicated that the intervention was efficacious in enhancing prosocial behavior and related constructs (e.g., empathy) and that these effects were maintained 1 month later. These results have important implications for understanding and promoting prosocial habits.

Citations

• Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being.
• From Thought to Action: Effects of Process-Versus Outcome-Based Mental Simulations on Performance
• Narrative Identity
• Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being.

Related

• Convincing Yourself to Care About Others: An Intervention for Enhancing Benevolence Values
• Effects of Prosocial Video Games on Prosocial Thoughts and Prosocial Behaviors
• What is Unique About Kindness? Exploring the Proximal Experience of Prosocial Acts Relative to Other Positive Behaviors
• The Influence of Cultivating Contemporary Chinese Core Values on Prosocial Behaviours of Undergraduate Students
• Development and Validation of the Prosocial Behavior in School Scale