The Emergency of Prosociality: A Developmental Perspective on Altruism and Other Prosocial Behavior in the Face of Disaster

Abstract

No two emergency situations are alike. A combination of human and contextual factors makes each emergency and disaster unique in its time line, its aftermath, and especially its impact on affected populations. In all of these situations, however, people engage in prosocial behavior that benefits others. We provide an overview of altruistic and other prosocial behavior in typical human development and of developmental distinctions between helping, sharing, and comforting. We focus on the expression of these behaviors in emergency situations, using the COVID-19 pandemic to illustrate how prosociality shifts and adapts in a specific context. Finally, we suggest that a developmental framework may help researchers and professionals in the field achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the many facets and underlying mechanisms of prosociality in emergency contexts.

Socio‐psychological barriers preventing people from helping in times of crisis: A scoping review

“…Emergencies, often fraught with high‐stakes circumstances, may compel individuals to make substantial sacrifices for the greater good. Altruistic behaviour embodies a readiness to make such sacrifices, even in the face of personal risks or losses (Rose, Dezecache, Powell, Chokron, & Kovarski, 2022). In the crucible of crises, altruistic actions stand out due to their capacity to effect immediate and critical outcomes, such as saving lives, rendering essential aid or alleviating suffering.…”

The influence of students’ sense of social connectedness on prosocial behavior in higher education institutions in Guangxi, China: A perspective of perceived teachers’ character teaching behavior and social support

“…Prosocial behavior (PB) plays a crucial role in increasing well-being, improving interpersonal communication and promoting harmonious social development ( Rose et al, 2022 ; Su et al, 2019 ). Especially for students entering higher education, PB is crucial for students’ interpersonal relationships, psychological well-being, subjective well-being and social adjustment ( Meehan et al, 2019 ; Son and Padilla-Walker, 2020 ; Nagaoka et al, 2022 ).…”

“…The influence of students' sense of social connectedness on prosocial behavior in higher education institutions in Guangxi, China: A perspective of perceived teachers' character teaching behavior and social support Nanguang Su 1,2 and Hsuan-Po Wang 1 * Introduction Prosocial behavior (PB) plays a crucial role in increasing wellbeing, improving interpersonal communication and promoting harmonious social development (Rose et al, 2022;Su et al, 2019). Especially for students entering higher education, PB is crucial for students' interpersonal relationships, psychological well-being, subjective well-being and social adjustment (Meehan et al, 2019;Son and Padilla-Walker, 2020;Nagaoka et al, 2022).…”

The effects of perceptions of a malicious intent to harm on victims' prosocial intentions during a crisis

“…In principle, the primary distinction between natural and man-made disasters is human involvement leading to the cause of the event (Makwana, 2019;Rose et al, 2022;Zagefka et al, 2011). More accurately, natural disasters stem from a combination of natural hazards⎯devoid of human involvement and decision⎯as well as the inability of the community to cope (i.e., human action or inaction), although it remains that the main attribution of such events is still entirely inevitable (Blaikie et al, 2014).…”

“…According to Sjoberg (1962, p.357), a disaster is defined as a "severe, relatively sudden, frequently unexpected disruption" of the social context". Disasters can be categorised based on diverse features such as their attribution, intent, and even the kind of victims impacted (Rose et al, 2022). Despite their differences in characteristics, these emergency situations altogether still share commonalities including unexpectedness and uncertainty in the kind, magnitude, and severity of impact on victims (Rose et al, 2022;Sjoberg, 1962).…”