Increasing prosocial behavior and decreasing selfishness in the lab and everyday life

The tension between selfishness and prosocial behavior is crucial to understanding many social interactions and conflicts. Little is known about how to promote prosocial behaviors, especially in naturally occurring relationships outside the laboratory. The authors examined whether a brief psychological micro-intervention would promote prosocial behaviors in couples. Across two studies, dyads were randomized to a 15-minute micro-intervention, which increased prosocial behaviors by 28% and decreased selfish behaviors by 35% a week later in behavioral games in a dose–response manner. Using event sampling methodology (ESM), they also observed an increase in prosocial behaviors across one week that was most pronounced in participants who received the intervention. These results from the laboratory and everyday life are important for researchers interested in prosocial behavior and selfishness and have practical relevance for group interactions.

Andrew T. Gloster, Marcia T. B. Rinner, Andrea H. Meyer