Despite psychology being a theoretical subject, its application in our day to day lives is immense. The different results from experiments carried out by most of the theorists can be applied in different fields of our lives and the society at large. Psychology touches on various aspects of our lives which include work, families, health, finance, spiritual and social relations. The study of humans and animals mind and behavior is important to understanding the differences and similarities in people leading to better relations and quality of life (Penner, Dovidio, Piliavin, & Schroeder, 2005). One of the aspects that we learned in this course is moral psychology. Our relation with others in an ethical manner is of great importance for a healthy community. In today’s society, there has been a moral decay leading to inequality in many aspects of life. Inequality has been perpetuated by the few rich in society, whom self-interest is more important than that of the general and vulnerable public (Piff, 2013). This behavior goes against the principles of prosocial behavior that advocates for social justice for all above self-interest (Penner, Dovidio, Piliavin, & Schroeder, 2005).
Prosocial behavior in psychology was a brainchild of McDougall (1908), he argued that prosocial behavior is the result of “tender emotions” created by the parental instinct (Penner, Dovidio, Piliavin, & Schroeder, 2005). Most current research has its roots in lay and scientific reactions to the nonresponsive bystanders in the brutal murder of Katherine “Kitty” Genovese in 1964 and also the 1960s Civil Rights Movement against racial discrimination (Knickerbocker, 2003). Since then, it has evolved to encompass a broad range of biological, motivational, cognitive, and social processes (Penner, Dovidio, Piliavin, & Schroeder., 2005). Prosocial behavior requires people to act in a manner that benefits other people in the society rather than serving oneself. We are expected to help, share, donate, co-operate, volunteer, obey the rules and conform to socially accepted behaviors.
These actions call for one to have empathy and concern for the welfare and rights of others (Penner, Dovidio, Piliavin, & Schroeder, 2005). Also, our orientations, egoistic concerns, for example, our reputation or social and rewards expectations can influence how we fairly treat others. The basic question that we ask is the motivation behind people helping one another (Penner, Dovidio, Piliavin, & Schroeder, 2005). Prosocial behavior is believed to be hereditary and has a more biological aspect as opposed to a learned phenomenon (Knickerbocker, 2003). Theories such as kin-selection theory and inclusive fitness have also been employed by evolutionary psychologists to explain why prosocial behavioral characteristics are passed down generationally, according to the evolutionary fitness displayed by those who engaged in prosocial acts (Knickerbocker, 2003).
Both altruism and egoism are integrated with concern for both society and the self (Knickerbocker, 2003). Psychological theories regarding prosocial tendencies have moved from a strong environmental bias towards models which focus on the interplay between biologically based tendencies and socialization experiences (Penner, Dovidio, Piliavin, & Schroeder, 2005). Prosocial behavior promotes positive traits that are beneficial for children and society.
References
Knickerbocker, Roberta L. (2003). Prosocial Behavior. Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, (pp. 1-3).
Penner., L., Dovidio., J., Piliavin., J., & Schroeder., D. (2005). Prosocial Behavior: Multilevel Perspectives. Annual Review of Psychology, 56(1), 365-392. http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.56.091103.070141
Piff, P. (2013). Paul Piff: Does money make you mean? YouTube. Retrieved 9 May 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ8Kq1wucsk
