Prosocial Behaviour - Essay Example

Prosocial Behavior Affects Life Satisfaction Specifically Altruism and Happiness

Prosocial behavior refers to voluntary or deliberate behavior that leads to experiencing benefits by an individual. If an action is meant to benefit another individual, such steps are associated with altruism. Altruism happens when another person gains from the prosocial behavior without the doer expecting to be rewarded. In other words, prosocial behavior is often regarded as a "social glue" that allows humans of varied ages, classes, and beliefs to stay co-existent, mutual, productive, and peaceful. Typically, the concepts of prosocial behavior happen differently. One such form includes the small actions that depict compassion, like allowing older adults to sit while young ones stand in a gathering. Also, prosocial behaviors can happen as much sustained practices that entail coming out as volunteers in a charitable agency or taking care of the orphans. The nature of such behaviors varies based on the political, social, and economic structures of various nations globally. Hence, this research seeks to broadly outline how prosocial behavior affects life satisfaction, specifically altruism and happiness

Social psychological theories have tried to differentiate the forms of motivations that result from altruism and egoism on the prosocial acts. In altruism, one is frankly driven to offer support to the vulnerable groups in society without having other forms of attachments or personal gains. Charitable activities such as partaking in pro bono initiatives out of one’s will is a form of altruism that is regarded as a prosocial behavior (Baston et al., n.d.). Despite many people turning out to show charitable work to the vulnerable groups, contemporary psychologists still argue whether or not society has actual altruistic behaviors. At some point, the kind of prosocial behavior is motivated by other forms of attractions known as non-altruism or egoistic behaviors. Egoistic behaviors include the urge to build a reputation to oneself, the need to feel good after accomplishing a charitable work, or the need to get recognized by other societal members (Baston et al., n.d.). The use of social evaluation and manipulative aversive arousal are often used as mechanisms for evaluating the actual and hypothetical instances of prosocial behavior.

On the other hand, happiness is regarded as arousal that comes after experiencing success or getting aid from other parties. Also, Aknin et al. (2015) tell that happiness is a substitute mechanism for evaluating the antecedents of prosocial actions when one intends to identify how people behave in a prosocial way. One can become happy regardless of whether their prosocial nature is egoistically or altruistically driven. Happiness happens to either person with a sensitive radar towards others or those who have received a sense of compassion. Happiness and prosocial behavior are associated with many psychologists' evolutionary grounds (Aknin et al. 2015). For example, the concept of happiness is presented as a form of emotional compassion and contagion that elicits mutual co-existence among various groups. Like altruism, happiness is another form of prosocial behavior seen in the cross-sectional and longitudinal studies as being higher in adults than younger individuals. In this case, the older populations have significantly developed an urge to provide aid to others and partake in emotionally sensitive age-graded activities that can fulfill others' wants. Hence, positive prosocial behaviors affect happiness through physiological arousal (Aknin et al. 2015). The nature of being happy is experienced through elements such as empathy, non-verbal features, and responses from other people.

Initiatives done by various global organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) towards the vulnerable groups are a form of altruism that aims to create happiness for other members of society. When WHO provides financial support to the vulnerable nations towards curbing the spread of coronavirus, such measures depict altruism that eventually makes those affected with the disease happy. Similarly, well-wishers' act of helping the elderly or orphans is altruism that ultimately leads to happiness on others (Baston et al. n.d.). Today, multiple types of prosocial behavior happen differently.

The underlying psychological need theory (BSNT) is one form of models that help describe the nature of prosocial behavior on altruism and happiness. According to this theory, people are born with three significant psychological demands. Such demands or needs range from relatedness, autonomy, and competence (Buchanan & Bardi, 2017). All three needs are intuitive and not acquired during human growth. The needs differ based on the period, gender, and culture of humans. Also, according to the BSNT theory, the three human needs differ based on the ages of people. Still, this theory holds that primary institutions like schools are meant to support or teach how the relatedness, autonomy, and competence can be fulfilled to human beings (Buchanan & Bardi, 2017). Whereas fulfilling the three human wants is a form of altruism, the real act of accomplishing these needs elicits happiness in society. In this case, one practice leads to the aspect of satisfaction and feeling happy by other people. The young and older people who are brought up in a supportive setting need to find the three psychological needs to make them happy. Nonetheless, it is vital to establish effective social structures that can help the basic human needs to be satisfied. These structures are altruism, a fundamental type of prosocial behavior that ought to be advocated for in society. According to the research by Buchanan & Bardi (2017), the type of altruism is directly related to the social and prosocial behavior of people. What matters depends on how the needs are fulfilled to children and grownups in society.

Furthermore, a model known as the Kin Selection Theory outlines several forms of prosocial behaviors in families grounded on kinship. For instance, the study by Baston et al. (n.d.) depicts that this model asserts that human beings are chiefly captivated to offer aid to the family members since the nature of aid leads to the survival of their genes. When the Kin selection theory is associated with altruism-happiness distinction, the model, therefore, turns out to be a source of both altruism and happiness. The kin selection theory is a form of altruism as a person tends to show sacrifice to assist a blood relative or family member. Just like the basic psychological need theory predicts, kin selection theory puts that provision of aid to others is a form of altruism that eventually leads to happiness (Baston et al., n.d.). Although the kin selection theory is helpful due to the creation of happiness for the family members, this model has received multiple criticisms for being based on the egocentric grounds. For example, most scholars assert that this theory has significantly contributed to the “propagation of one’s own genes.” However, the kin selection model is vital in society as it continuously propagates the application of prosocial behavior to grandchildren. Here, the grownups can enhance the continuity of investing in younger people when they practice Kin selection theory (Baston et al., n.d.). The above notion concurs with the “grandmother hypothesis” that defines the comparatively extended post-reproductive time of women grounded on the survival gains for both their kids and grandchildren.

More so, prosocial behavior affects altruism and happiness through cognitive behavioral therapies. There are two kinds of cognitive behavioral therapies that can be used to define prosocial behaviors. One of those forms is the Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), while the second one is regarded as Cognitive Therapy. According to the research of Aknin et al. (2015), the two theories were initiated by Albert Ellis (1950s) and Aaron T. Beck (1960s), respectively. Therefore, prosocial behaviors have a cognitive impact on the elements of altruism and happiness. Even though the concept of altruism depicts conducting particular practices without expecting rewards, there are cognitive spurs that are not obvious in this practice (Aknin et al. 2015). For instance, one can come out of stress when he or she shows kindness and empathy. While explaining an idea of empathy, REBT depicts that human beings are more likely to participate in the altruistic acts whenever they are empathetic to others that have sorrow. Kids seem to be much altruistic when their empathetic habits grow. This is regarded as the empathy-altruism hypothesis (Aknin et al. 2015). When this aspect is accomplished, the two parties will be cognitively relieved and eventually become happy.

In summary, prosocial behaviors is an essential element of life for human beings. The nature of prosocial behaviors in humans differs depending on the kind of life they pursue. As seen in the discussion, prosocial behavior has a significant impact on altruism and happiness. Both sides shed off their adverse insights when they experience prosocial behaviors. Such aspects are described in various theories, including the negative-state relief model. When other beings are troubled, empathetic people become restless and uncomfortable. Human behaviors can be identified through feelings, actions, and other forms of responses. Since society has people that respond to issues differently, mood can also be used to tell how an individual feels. It is through the identification of the behaviors or actions of another person that one will react accordingly. Even though the nature of help can be small, it is vital to offer aid to show prosocial behaviors in society. Hence, helping vulnerable individuals improve their feelings in what is defined by prosocial behaviors.