Perceptual Broadening Leads to More Prosociality

Abstract

A link between perceptual processing styles and (pro)social behavior has gathered supporting empirical evidence to show that people raised or trained in traditions of collectiveness, compassion, and prosocial beliefs are biased to the global level in perceptual processing. In this research, we studied the reciprocal link – whether contextually broadening perceptual scope of attention via global processing could make people more prosocial. We hypothesized that global processing linked previously to an interdependent compassionate self-orientation would make people more prosocial, compared to local processing. Four experiments manipulated perceptual scope through a Global-Local task using hierarchical stimuli. It was found that participants who performed a global processing perceptual task volunteered to donate more money across different donation frames, compared to those who performed a local processing task. While previous research showed prosocial mindsets lead to perceptual broadening, the current results suggest that perceptual broadening also leads to more prosociality, thus establishing a reciprocal link between perceptual broadening (attentional scope), and acting prosocially. It is proposed that perceptual scope of attention is one of the generic cognitive processes that underlie prosocial decisions. Explanations based on scope of attention can potentially be used as a framework that enables researchers to link the effects of different contextual cues on prosocial decisions.

A Humane Social Learning-Informed Metaverse: Cultivating Positive Technology Experiences in Digital Learning Environments

“…Digital learning environments can be designed with positive psychology interventions that can facilitate experiences such as positive resonance, emotional savoring, social support, prosocial behavior, self-transcendence, compassion, belonging, and more. 42 , 76 , 77 There are several opportunities to explore and use technology for the good that are being investigated 45 , 78 and understanding positive technology use is instrumental in the process of designing positive digital learning environments.…”

Engaging in the good with technology: a framework for examining positive technology use

“…Essentially, seeing good is the access to visual information that contributes to positive outcomes. This visual process is associated with early evolutionary capacities for connections and interactions through positive non-verbal cues, such as smiling ( Mukherjee et al, 2018 ).…”

“…Recently, research into visual stimuli within digital environments have reflected similar cognitive processes through digital visual cues. Positive cues from inspirational media can lead to the broadening of attention and perception ( Haidt, 2003 ; Janicke-Bowles et al, 2018 ; Mukherjee et al, 2018 ), and prosocial outcomes ( Greitemeyer, 2009 ). They are associated with increased motivation, positive emotions and inference of meaning ( Gilbert and Li, 2013 ; Myrick et al, 2022 ).…”

Going beyond ourselves: the role of self-transcendent experiences in wisdom

“…People are often expected to uphold diverse virtues, such as generosity, honesty, and loyalty, in dynamic ways. Despite such diversity in moral values, ethical actions often begin with the fundamental ability to broaden the consideration of oneself to also take into account others' interests, values, and perspectives (Conn, 1977;Mukherjee et al, 2018;Tomasello, 2020). To that end, researchers have begun studying how to help individuals think beyond the self.…”