UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
UNPACKING THE SELF: PROSOCIAL SELF
Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the prosocial self and its benefits to one’s self and society.
2. Reflect on areas within the self that contribute or interfere with prosocial behaviors.
3. Exhibit altruistic acts of kindness.
PROSOCIAL SELF predicts PROSOCIAL BEHAVIORS
PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOR
- those intended to help other people.
- Characterized by a concern for the rights, feelings, and welfare of other people. Behaviors that can be
described as prosocial include feeling empathy and concern for others.
- Include actions of helping, sharing, comforting and cooperating
- Benefits:
• Mood-boosting effects: Research has shown that people who engage in prosocial behaviors are more
likely to experience better moods. Not only that, people who help others tend to experience negative
moods less frequently
• Social support benefits: Having social support can be crucial for getting through difficult times.
Research has shown that social support can have a powerful impact on many aspects of wellness,
including reducing the risk of loneliness, alcohol use and depression.
• Stress-reducing effects: Research has also found that engaging in prosocial behaviors help mitigate the
negative emotional effects of stress. Helping others may actually be a great way to reduce the impact of
stress in your life
- Types (why prosocial behavior occurs):
• Proactive: These are prosocial actions that serve self-benefitting purposes
• Reactive: These are actions that are performed to individual needs
• Altruistic: These include actions that are meant to help others without any expectations of personal gain
PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOR VS. ALTRUISM
ALTRUISM is a form of prosocial behavior, but is viewed as a form of helping motivated purely out of concern
for the individual need. What altruism is not: Nowadays, some people engage in altruist to gain the acclaim of
others through social media or to feel good about themselves.
BYSTANDER EFFECT: Understanding of why people help in some situations but not in others.
- Situational variables that contribute to or interfere with prosocial behaviors:
• Fear of judgment or embarrassment
• How other people respond
• The number of people present
- How to take action:
1. Notice what is happening
2. Interpret the events an emergency
3. Experience feelings of responsibility
4. Believe that they have skills to help
5. Make a conscious choice to offer assistance
Reference: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-prosocial-behavior-2795479
Watch Color the World with Kindness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdA2sByFX1I
Activity: Color the World with Kindness (20 points)
Write down 5 colors. Think of living things you can associate with each color. Write it down and include an act of
kindness you plan to do. Make it as concrete as possible.
Example:
1. Red – Boyfriend/Girlfriend (I will listen more)
2. Green – Earth (I will water the plants every weekend)
3. Blue – Family (I will express my love by giving them a letter)
4. Yellow – God (I will spend 15 minutes of prayer every night)
5. Pink – Myself (I will make sure to have 8 hours of sleep)
Watch Why Some People are more Altruistic than Others: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq-6T6TAu74
Think-Pair-Share
Discuss the following questions with a partner:
1. Think of an instance when you genuinely extended help to a total stranger, or outside of your immediate
social circle?
2. What do you think motivated you to do such an act?
3. How did you feel afterwards?
