What is the Difference Between Altruism and Prosocial Behavior?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between altruism and prosocial behavior lies in the motivation behind the actions. Both concepts involve actions intended to benefit others, but altruism is specifically motivated by a genuine desire to benefit without any expectation of benefits to oneself.
Prosocial Behavior refers to a broad range of actions intended to benefit one or more people other than oneself, such as helping, comforting, sharing, and cooperation. Prosocial behavior is voluntary, intentional, and results in benefits for another person. It is considered the "social glue" that enables people of different ages to live together and is valued and expected by society. Examples of prosocial behavior include volunteering, sharing, and supporting someone in distress.
Altruism is a specific type of prosocial behavior characterized by a selfless concern for the well-being of others. It involves actions that benefit others without any expectation of personal gain or reward. Altruism is contrasted to egoism, which is the motivation to increase one's own welfare. Altruistic behavior is often considered to be the essence of extreme altruistic behavior, but it can also manifest in day-to-day life through positive, humane actions.
In summary, the key difference between altruism and prosocial behavior is that altruism is a specific type of prosocial behavior motivated by a genuine desire to benefit others without expecting any benefits to oneself. Prosocial behavior, on the other hand, encompasses a broader range of actions intended to benefit others, which may or may not be motivated by altruism.
Comparative Table: Altruism vs Prosocial Behavior
Altruism and prosocial behavior are closely related concepts in psychology, but they have distinct differences. Here is a table summarizing the differences between the two:
| Altruism | Prosocial Behavior |
|---|---|
| Involves a selfless concern for the well-being of others | Involves actions performed to benefit others, including cooperation and altruism |
| Benefits others with no benefit to the actor or at a cost to the actor | Can result in benefits to society as a whole, encouraging reciprocity and cooperation |
| Motivated by genuine concern for others, sometimes at the expense of personal well-being | Motivated by various factors, such as social norms, personal values, or expectations of reciprocity |
| Examples: Volunteering at a soup kitchen, donating blood without expecting admiration | Examples: Sharing resources, supporting someone in distress, cooperating in a group project |
In summary, altruism is a type of prosocial behavior characterized by selfless concern for others and actions that benefit others without any benefit or at a cost to the actor. On the other hand, prosocial behavior encompasses a broader range of actions aimed at benefiting others, which can include cooperation, reciprocity, and even selfless support of others in need.
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