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Explaining Prosocial Behavior from the Inter-and Within-Individual Perspectives

A Role of Positive Orientation and Positive Affect

Bibliographic Data

ID21704456
AuthorsMariola Łaguna (0000-0001-6865-8587, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, corresponding author), Evelina De Longis (0000-0002-0502-1236, Sapienza University of Rome), Zofia Mazur‐Socha (0000-0002-5291-7158, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin), G Alessandri (0000-0003-4731-5248, Sapienza University of Rome)
Year2022
Volume23
Issue4
Pages1599-1615
Publication date2022-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Happiness Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1389-4978 • E-ISSN: 1573-7780
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s10902-021-00464-4
OpenAlexW3206422039
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited42

Prosocial behavior is undertaken voluntarily to benefit others and includes a range of actions, such as helping, sharing, caring, and comforting. Our study concerned psychological mechanisms stimulating prosocial behavior explaining it from both the within-individual (daily fluctuations) and inter-individual (individual differences) perspectives. We tested a model in which positive orientation and positive affect directly predict within-individual variability in prosocial behavior and in which positive affect mediates the relationship between positive orientation and daily prosocial behavior. These two-level mediation mechanisms were investigated using an intensive longitudinal study design with seven daily measurements on a sample of 181 undergraduates and 1119 daily observations. The results confirm that, with personality traits, sex, and prosocial behavior during the previous day adjusted for, inter- and within-individual variability in positive orientation predict daily prosocial behavior. Inter-individual variability in positive affect is a significant predictor of prosocial behavior and a mediator between positive orientation and daily prosocial behavior. No such mediation mechanism was detected for within-individual variability in positive affect. These results suggest several recommendations on how to stimulate prosocial behavior. By stimulating the general tendency to cultivate positive affective experiences and to view life in a positive light, it may be possible to prepare people to notice and respond to the needs of others

Developmental psychology · Gratitude · Mediation · Personality · Positive psychology · Prosocial behavior · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction · Psychology · Social Psychology

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Unique citing works6
Citations per year3
Citation span2024 - 2026 (3)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 6
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