Week 7 Exercise: Prosocial Behavior
Much of what we tend to focus on when we study social psychology
are topics that often have a negative connotation such as conformity,
prejudice, aggression or obedience. A huge component of the study of social
psychology; however, focuses on prosocial behavior – behaviors that focus on
compassion and helping others. For this activity, you will focus on this more
uplifting aspect of social psychology. Topics that fall under the area of
prosocial behavior include altruism, helping, bystander intervention, empathy,
and compassion, among others.
For this exercise, pick one day and seek to structure your
thoughts and behaviors entirely around helping others. With each interaction or
action you take, pause to think and ask yourself “is there a way I might help another
here?” Hold a door for someone, offer your seat, share a smile, give a sincere
compliment, show empathy to another, attempt to be more patient or
understanding, etc. Your efforts should be in social settings that involve
interactions with others (rather than something such as donating to a charity
for instance). The goal is to be as thoughtfully prosocial in your interactions
throughout the day as possible.
· At the beginning of the day, jot down your general mood,
feelings, attitude, etc.
· Then throughout the day, whenever possible, carry a small
notebook with you or make notes in an app on your phone to jot down meaningful
encounters or experiences as you attempt to engage in prosocial behaviors.
· At the end of the day, again reflect and take notes on how you
feel, your general mood, feelings and attitudes, etc.
In a 5-7 slide PowerPoint presentation, not counting title or
reference slides:
· Summarize your experience. Describe the prosocial behaviors you
engaged in, others’ reactions to these behaviors, and your assessment of any
changes in mood, attitude, good fortune, or anything else of note you
experienced.
· Review what you have learned about human behavior in social
settings this week in your readings and CogBooks activities. Connect what you
learned or experienced through your day of conscious, prosocial behavior with
the terms, concepts, and theories from your research. Integrate at least two
academic sources (your assigned readings/resources can comprise one of these
sources), citing any references used in APA format.
· Describe any new insights you gained through this experience
about your interactions with others on a daily basis, including any behaviors
you wish to change or to continue.
· Use the features of PowerPoint to your advantage to communicate
your ideas – include pictures, audio recorded narration, speaker’s notes,
video, links, etc. as appropriate to enhance your ideas.
· Include an APA formatted title slide and reference slide. APA
components such as an abstract, headings, etc. are not required since this is a
PowerPoint presentation.
Submit your presentation as an attachment in the Week 7
Assignment Prosocial Behavior link in the Assignments area of the classroom no
later than 11:55 pm EST Sunday of Week 7.
