Pro-Social Behavior

Prosocial behavior is when people do things to help others. This includes cooperating, sharing,

helping, giving to charities, and volunteering. Sometimes, this involves giving up something

valuable like time, effort, or even risking harm. Acts like being nice, doing kind things, and even

being heroic are all part of prosocial behavior. It ranges from simple things like giving your seat

to a stranger to big things like donating an organ to save a life. The big question is why people

do these nice things, even when they don't directly benefit. Imagine a situation where a car has a

flat tire on the side of the road, and a person walking by stops to help change the tire. Even

though they don't have to, they decide to lend a hand. This kind action creates a feeling of

togetherness and support in the community. By helping the driver, the person not only makes the

driver's day better but also feels good about helping. This simple act of kindness makes the

community stronger and happier overall. After this act of prosocial behavior, it becomes evident

that such actions play a vital role in building connections among people.

Prosocial behavior goes beyond just helping in emergencies; it encompasses everyday actions

like sharing, cooperating, and being considerate. These actions make our communities more

pleasant and harmonious places to live. Research in psychology and sociology has shown that

prosocial behavior not only benefits those who receive help but also has positive effects on the

individuals who engage in these acts. It can lead to a sense of fulfillment, increased self-esteem,

and even improved mental and physical well-being. As we explore the motivations behind

prosocial behavior and delve deeper into its various forms, we uncover the intricate web of

human interactions that contribute to the fabric of our society. According to (Gilvhich, 2011),

altruism is a kind of behavior in which people work unselfishly for the benefit of others without

regarding consequences to oneself. Although being a kind act altruism can also harm oneself.
Prioritizing others over oneself might lead to neglecting personal health, straining finances, or

enduring emotional fatigue, while also exposing individuals to potential exploitation or

misunderstanding.

In our investigation into Prosocial Behavior, we conducted a social experiment at the bustling

location of Maitighar on a sunny day. The street was teeming with individuals hurrying to catch

buses, students heading home, and ongoing protests contributing to the vibrant atmosphere. Our

group comprised seven members, including two experimenters and five observers. The

experiment involved two experimenters, myself (male), and a female group member.

Additionally, the team included five observers who were strategically positioned throughout the

area. Our aim was to examine whether people would spontaneously help in a busy urban setting.

To execute the experiment, we intentionally dropped piles of books, copies, and papers, creating

scenarios that required assistance. Our observations focused on whether any passerby would step

forward to help. This experiment aimed to shed light on the prevalence of prosocial behavior in a

dynamic and diverse social environment, revealing the extent to which individuals would extend

their kindness amidst the chaos of daily life.

During the experiment, I keenly observed the bustling environment as people hurriedly went

about their tasks. I conducted the experiment by intentionally dropping a pile of books and

copies on multiple occasions, anticipating reactions from those passing by. Surprisingly, my

attempts to elicit assistance were met with indifference. Several individuals, including a high

school male student, middle-aged man, and another high school male student, glanced at the

fallen items but refrained from offering any help. Similarly, a high school female student

acknowledged the situation but also chose not to intervene. Strikingly, not a single person

engaged with me or extended a helping hand. Conversely, when my female group member
conducted the experiment, three boys acknowledged the fallen papers and remarked on her

predicament. However, she too encountered a largely dismissive response from a group of

people. Some individuals simply walked away after a brief glance, while others momentarily

paused to observe her efforts in retrieving her belongings. This divergence in reactions

underscores the complex interplay of social dynamics and personal inclinations that influence

prosocial behavior.

The outcomes of the experiment shed light on the diverse responses that prosocial behavior can

evoke within a busy urban setting (Bierhoff, n.d.). The lack of assistance, observed across both

the male and female experiments, underscores the challenges of eliciting help in a fast-paced

environment where people may be preoccupied with their own tasks. The observed bystander

effect, where individuals hesitate to offer help assuming someone else will, is a significant factor

that contributes to this phenomenon. The bystander effect occurs when the presence of others

discourages an individual from intervening in an emergency situation, against a bully or during

an assault or other crime. The greater the number of bystanders, the less likely it is for any one of

them to provide help to a person in distress (Martínez-Gregorio, 2023). Moreover, the

experiment revealed the potential influence of gender dynamics on prosocial behavior, with

varying responses between the male and female experimenters. To mitigate the observed lack of

assistance, interventions could focus on raising awareness about the bystander effect and

promoting a sense of responsibility among individuals to step forward and offer help when

needed. Moreover, incorporating educational initiatives that emphasize the importance of

community support and compassion might encourage individuals to overcome the inertia of

inaction and engage in more prosocial behaviors, thus fostering a more connected and supportive

social fabric.
Prosocial behavior means doing things that help others, like being kind or even doing really

brave things. People do these things because they naturally want to feel like they belong and help

each other. These actions not only make the people who get help feel good, but they also make

the people who help feel proud and better about themselves. When we study prosocial behavior,

which includes both small nice actions and big heroic ones, we see how these actions are like the

threads that hold our society together. But, it gets more interesting when we look at how people

act in busy cities. Our study showed that it can be tricky to get help in busy places due to things

like people watching and gender differences affecting whether someone helps or not. So, it's

important for us to encourage responsibility and remind people to care about their community to

make the world a nicer and more connected place. In the end, prosocial behavior is like a

foundation for friendly communities, and if we understand it better, we can make our

relationships stronger and the world more caring.

References
Bierhoff, H. W. (n.d.). Prosocial Behavior. Retrieved from Blackwellpublishing.

Gilvhich, K. a. (2011). Social Psychology.

Martínez-Gregorio, S. (2023). MDPI. Retrieved from bystander effect.