Book contents
- The Cambridge Handbook of Moral Psychology
- Cambridge Handbooks in Psychology
- The Cambridge Handbook of Moral Psychology
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- Preface
- 1 Modern Moral Psychology
- Part I Building Blocks
- Part II Thinking and Feeling
- Part III Behavior
- 12 Prosociality
- 13 Antisocial and Moral Behavior
- 14 Intergroup Conflict and Dehumanization
- 15 Blame and Punishment
- 16 Moral Communication
- Part IV Origins, Development, and Variation
- Part V Applications and Extensions
- Index
- References
12 - Prosociality
from Part III - Behavior
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 February 2025
Book contents
- The Cambridge Handbook of Moral Psychology
- Cambridge Handbooks in Psychology
- The Cambridge Handbook of Moral Psychology
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- Preface
- 1 Modern Moral Psychology
- Part I Building Blocks
- Part II Thinking and Feeling
- Part III Behavior
- 12 Prosociality
- 13 Antisocial and Moral Behavior
- 14 Intergroup Conflict and Dehumanization
- 15 Blame and Punishment
- 16 Moral Communication
- Part IV Origins, Development, and Variation
- Part V Applications and Extensions
- Index
- References
Summary
This chapter of the handbook highlights that, for successful social living, humans’ capacity to be prosocial had to surpass their capacity for selfish and harmful behavior. The authors provide an overview of the scientific study of prosocial capacities, with a focus on experimental research. Summarizing extensive work in laboratory paradigms of behavioral economics and social psychology, the authors document a strong human tendency toward behaving prosocially. They then briefly examine the phylogenetic and developmental origins of behaving prosocially and its different motives, such as reputational concerns and caring for others, as well as emotions that facilitate prosocial behavior, such as empathy or guilt. The authors also summarize insights from cognitive neuroscience on the brain networks that undergird prosocial behavior. They close with a call for more naturalistic experimental paradigms and the consideration of temporal dynamics of prosocial behavior.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Cambridge Handbook of Moral Psychology , pp. 273 - 302Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2025
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