Prosocial Behavior and Motivation

Prosocial Behavior and Motivation

The scientific study of how humans think, influence, and relate to various interactions is defined as social psychology (Macmillan, 2019). Social psychology aims at unrevealing mysteries behind human behavior and how they impact on others around them. In daily interactions, it is common to find persons helping each other. A person might help another expecting nothing in return or something in return. When an individual assists another person out of love and not expecting something in return, the act can be considered altruism. Altruism is, therefore, defined as the selfless concern about the wellbeing of other humans (Macmillan, 2019). An altruist aims at seeing everyone happy regardless of their race or kind. The main motive is to alleviate suffering by providing a helping hand without expecting rewards.

In ancient societies, tradition played an import role in defining the behavior of individuals within a community. Important traditions were passed from parents to their children, and this included those that encouraged altruism (Beitin & Aprahamian, 2014). Currently, traditions are not treated as they were in the past; they are occasionally disregarded. The world has grown insensitive to essential virtues such as altruism, but it is still possible to find those that cherish it. Altruism still exists in this capitalist world, where everyone is selfish. For example, some individuals have dedicated their lives to serving others. They launch missions to various parts of the world, such as Asia and Africa, to assist those who are in need. Bill Gates is a perfect example of such a person (Mundel et al., 2019). He has accomplished much through his foundation throughout the globe.

In social psychology, various theories explain why individuals assist others. The theories are commonly referred to as the helping theories, and they include; social exchange theory, bystander intervention, reciprocity norm, social-responsibility norm, the psychology of attraction and romantic love (Macmillan, 2019). Social exchange theory is an approach to behavior, where individuals focus on maximizing the benefits of social interactions. Social exchange theory proposes that people assist others since they are bound to benefit in one way or another. Bystander intervention is the second theory that tries to explain why a person might offer help to those in need. According to the notion, a person might refrain from helping another due to the presence of other individuals (Macmillan, 2019). Therefore, a person might only help another in a situation where he feels that nobody is around to witness his acts of kindness.

The third theory of helping is the reciprocity norm. The theory explains that an individual might extend help to another person since the person might have helped him in the past. The best way to treat those who have helped us is by helping them back. The reciprocity norm theory is closely associated with the next approach, which is the social-responsibility norm. Social responsibility norm suggests that people should help one another since it’s what society expects from us (Macmillan, 2019). People cannot ignore assisting others, yet social institutions encourage that help should be extended to those in need. Attraction is another reason why assistance is extended to others. The psychology of attraction states that people might feel attracted to each other due to proximity or physical appearance (Macmillan, 2019). When an individual is attracted to another, offering help becomes automated due to attraction. Attraction leads to the final theory of why people assist others: romantic love. Love is an emotion that draws people to like and appreciate each other. Sacrifice is common in romantic love, and it explains why someone may readily offer help to his/her partner. The support comes naturally due to the feeling that exists between two.

Recently, I embarked on a mission to visit a nursing home for the elderly. It was quite an intriguing experience where I shared memorable moments with persons who were advanced in age. During my interaction with them, most of them were uncomfortable with the fact that their children had neglected them in the nursing homes while others were okay with their new home. In the course of my visit, I remember assisting several elderly men and women in performing various tasks such as climbing up the stairs, eating, and even walking some of them around the institution. My presence seems to have been a blessing since a majority of them were happy to share the moment with me. On my side, I felt delighted about helping many of them with various activities during my visit. Considering my visit to the home for the elderly, I think social –responsibility norms motivated my acts of kindness. I felt like it was my duty to assist the elderly since it’s what I have been taught to do from my childhood. Additionally, my religion encourages acts of kindness towards the elderly. I remember my parents reminding me of respecting and taking care of those who are aged in society.

I do not consider my act of visiting the home for the elderly to be altruistic. The textbook defines altruism as an unselfish concern for the welfare of others (Macmillan, 2019). It implies that the act must come from an individual, and it is not prompted by other things, as was in my case. The assignment required students to engage in prosocial behavior, and it explains why I decided to visit the home for the elderly. In class, completing a task successfully always brings joy, especially when I get good grades in the end. By visiting the elderly, I felt good having completed my class assignment successfully. In addition to this, I was pleased with the fact that I assisted several people at the facility. The visit reminded me of what I was supposed to be doing, yet I chose to ignore it every day. I was motivated by the fact that I had practiced what my religion emphasizes: it might help me secure a special place in heaven.

Social facilitation is defined as performance that is encouraged by the presence of others. During my visit, the response I received from other elderly men, and the staff encouraged me to push my acts of kindness a step further. I believe that the looks and the silent comments from several of them influenced how I interacted with the elderly. Social facilitation theory was the motivation theory at play, and it surely did not disappoint. Although the requirements of the assignment prompted the prosocial behavior, I must admit it changed my life in numerous ways. The experience I had helping the elderly was lifechanging, and I thought about engaging in more activities that could impact the lives of others positively. Currently, the economic demands have kept many busy, and little time is spared for helping others. I think it’s time I inculcated altruism in my life and focused on making it a lifestyle rather than a one-off event.

References

Beitin, B. K., & Aprahamian, M. (2014). Family values and traditions. In Biopsychosocial perspectives on Arab Americans (pp. 67-88). Springer, Boston, MA.

Class Textbook

Mundel, T., Elias, C., Voorhies, R., Golston, A., & Suzman, M. (n.d.). What We Do. Retrieved December 1, 2019, from https://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do.