The article describes and compares the values and preferences of volunteer activities in young and senior-age volunteers, i.e., Generation Z and Baby Boomers. It also contains a review of theoretical approaches to understanding the characteristics and values of different generations. The empirical study took place in 2022 and relied on the method of content analysis. It involved volunteers in the media (n=20, 10 – young volunteers, 10 – senior citizens). The study covered 260 empirical indicators of various categories: 152 by the type of values of volunteerism and 108 by the preferred types of volunteer activity. For the younger generation, volunteering depended on the values of the well-being of other people. The value of an active, emotional, and eventful life was equally important for both groups but slightly more so for the Baby Boomers. The values of life wisdom, maturity of judgment, and common sense achieved by life experience were highly significant for the representatives of the older generation. Only volunteering in the field of culture showed significant group differences.

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The article analyses the role of empathy in motivating prosocial behaviour. The influence of the level of empathy development on the features of prosocial behaviour in personal development is analysed. A theoretical analysis of the phenomenon of empathy and its impact on prosocial behaviour is carried out from the point of view of an interdisciplinary approach. Studies of the prosocial behaviour phenomenon in the framework of modern psychological doctrines are considered. The article presents the results of a study aimed at studying the influence of the level of empathy on the formation of prosocial (helping) behaviour. The study was conducted using a personal interview method. The survey was conducted on a zoned quota sample, represented in accordance with sex, age, and educational structure of the population of Yaroslavl. (n=500 people). The main conclusions of the study include the conclusion about a low level of behavioural empathy, characterised by a willingness to sympathise and help, guided by emotional participation. We can talk about the correlation of the empathic potential of the individual and its altruistic orientation. Empathic potential makes it possible to predict the behavioural reactions of a person in a real situation and is a determinant of the formation of prosocial behaviour. An individual's belonging to a society is determined by its emotional connections and influences the formation of prosocial behaviour.

The article contains operationalisation of the concepts of “volunteerismˮ and “volunteeringˮ, as a result of which it is determined that it is inappropriate to consider the concepts of “volunteerismˮ and “volunteeringˮ as synonyms. The systematisation and generalisation of various methodological approaches in their application to the study of motivation for volunteering have been carried out. The article presents the results of a study aimed at studying the motivation of mutual assistance in society. The object of the study was people engaged in volunteer activities. The research was carried out by the method of personal interview. The study involved 232 volunteers aged 14 to 57. The number of women is 181 (78 %), of men, 51 (22 %). The data collection was carried out by sending a questionnaire in Google form (attachment) to volunteer organisations in Yaroslavl. Using the results of empirical research, it has been shown that the role of empathy in motivation for prosocial behaviour is significant only within the limits of spontaneous behaviour. Volunteering can be seen as a form of pro-social behaviour. It has been established and proven that motivation to engage in volunteer activities does not always depend on the altruistic orientation of the individual. Selfish interests can also motivate people to volunteer. The role of empathy in motivating prosocial behaviour depends on the context in which the decision to provide assistance is made.

The article presents the results of a study aimed at studying the socio-psychological characteristics of young volunteers and volunteers over 55 years old, taking into account intergenerational characteristics. It is revealed that the socio-psychological characteristics of the volunteers of the two studied generations have predominantly invariant characteristics. These include the polymotivation of prosocial activity, expressed with high significance for volunteers of all values; the importance of active social contacts; altruistic orientation of the individual; compassion as the most pronounced effective component of prosocial behavior and a tendency to emotionally colored actions in providing assistance.