Prosocial behavior

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Prosocial behavior consists of behaviors which are judged to be of social benefit to a particular community, communities, or value system. Behaviors judged to be destructive, on the other hand, are generally considered to be antisocial behaviors.

## Definitions

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> "voluntary actions that are intended to help or benefit another individual or group of individuals"
> (Eisenberg & Mussen 1989, p. 3)

## Examples

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Barn raising is an example of prosocial behaviour. | Sharing fish; an example of prosocial behaviour.

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Blood donation is an example of prosocial behaviour. | ISAF soldier helping an Afghan kid, 2005.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest privately-run philanthropic foundation in the world. It aims to spend all of its US$39 billion in the next 100 years. | Gandhi writing, 1942. Gandhi inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. Is civil disobediance prosocial or antisocial?
The Parable of the Good Samaritan is a Christian story about compassion which has had significant cultural influence. | Mother Theresa \- was she genuinely altruistic?

## See also

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### Wikiversity

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* Altruism
* Keywords
* Prosocial behaviour (Lecture notes)

### Commons

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* Category:Helping
* Category:Prosocial behavior

### Wikipedia

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* Prosocial behavior (Wikipedia)

### Topics

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* Bowling Alone
* Bystander effect
* Kohlberg's stages of moral development