Definition of Prosocial Behavior

If a person has the habit of helping or collaborating with others, it is an individual with a conduct prosocial. In this way, it could be said that this includes what seeks to generate positive actions for the benefit of others. Therefore, aggressive, selfish or harmful behaviors are contrary to this type of thought.

The desire to favor the other regardless of personal gain

When we act in everyday life, many of our actions have two possible paths:

1) act for one's own benefit or

2) act thinking of others.

Actions of the first type are selfish and the second are altruistic. Both have to be done in a balanced way. It would not make sense to behave thinking at all times of personal benefit, since this type of behavior generates rejection in others and ends up causing social isolation. In the same way, if our decisions are oriented only towards others, we ourselves can end up being harmed.

Behaviors on this line depend on many factors

If a person has not received a good

education, lives in a violent context and with few moral references, it is very likely that they do not have a prosocial behavior. As a general guideline, antisocial behaviors are manifested in an individual when he lacks moral references in her personal environment. To prevent antisocial behaviors it is necessary to promote an appropriate social context. First of all, a healthy family environment with love. Second, a environment respectful social and without any type of violence. Obviously, the education received in the school It is decisive, because in the educational process values ​​and norms are learned that are essential for the integration of the individual in the whole of society.

Machismo, bullying, verbal or physical aggression are examples of antisocial behavior. So that these behaviors do not manifest themselves, it is necessary to intervention direct from the whole of society.

Some animals also exhibit behaviors of this kind

Animals such as ants, dolphins, penguins or chimpanzees have a social behavior. This means that the behavior of these species is not exclusively oriented to their own benefit.

If we take penguins as a reference, they collaborate with each other to defend themselves from predators and live in family nuclei to act as a team. These types of strategies are purely instinctive, but thanks to them animals can survive.

Photos: Fotolia - Kostia / Phpetrunina14

Topics in Prosocial Behavior