The Social Psychology of Prosocial Behavior

by Dovidio; John F.

• ISBN13: 9780805849363
• ISBN10: 080584936X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-04-25
• Publisher: Psychology Pres

Summary

Written by four leading researchers in the study of prosocial behavior, this book introduces a new perspective on prosocial behavior for the 21st century. Building on the bystander intervention work that has defined this area since the 1960s, The Social Psychology of Prosocial Behavior examines prosocial behavior from a multilevel perspective that explores the diverse influences that promote actions for the benefit of others and the myriad ways that prosocial actions can be manifested. The authors expand the breadth of the field, incorporating analyses of biological and genetic factors that predispose individuals to be concerned for the well being of others, as well as planned helping such as volunteering and organizational citizenship behavior and cooperative behavior within and between groups. They identify both the common and the unique processes that underlie the broad spectrum of prosocial behavior. Each chapter begins with a question about prosocial behavior and ends with a summary that answers the question. The final chapter summarizes the questions and the answers that research provides. Conceptual models that elaborate on and extend the multilevel approach to prosocial behavior are used to tie these findings together. The book concludes with suggestions for future research. The Social Psychology of Prosocial Behavioraddressesthe following: *the evolution of altruistic tendencies and other biological explanations of why humans are predisposed to be prosocial; *how the situation and motives that are elicited by these situations affect when and how people help; *the causes and maintenance of long-term helping, such as volunteering; *how prosocial behavior changes over time and the developmental processes responsible for these changes; *the consequences of helping for both the people who provide it and those who receive it; *helping and cooperation within and between groups and the implications of these actions. This accessible text is ideal for advanced courses on helping and altruism or prosocial behavior, taught in psychology, sociology, management, political science, and communication, or for anyone interested in learning more about prosocial behavior in general.

Author Biography

John F. Dovidio is Professor of Psychology at the University of Connecticut

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
An Introduction to Prosocial Behavior	p. 1
The Origins of Prosocial Behavior: Are People Selfish or Selfless by Nature?	p. 33
The Context: When Will People Help?	p. 65
Why Do People Help?	p. 106
Planned and Long-Term Helping	p. 144
The Development of Prosocial Behavior	p. 180
Being the Helper and Being Helped: Causes and Consequences	p. 223
Prosocial Behavior in Collectives: Cooperation Within and Between Groups	p. 268
Prosocial Behavior: The Past, Present, and Future	p. 308
References	p. 349
Author Index	p. 391
Subject Index	p. 405
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