Prosocial Practices Research Articles

Influential individuals can promote prosocial practices in heterogeneous societies: a mathematical and agent-based model.

In this paper, we examine how different governance types impact prosocial behaviors in a heterogenous society. We construct a general theoretical framework to examine a game-theoretic model to assess the ease of achieving a cooperative outcome. We then build a dynamic agent-based model to examine three distinct governance types in a heterogenous population: monitoring one's neighbors, despotic leadership, and influencing one's neighbors to adapt strategies that lead to better fitness. In our research, we find that while despotic leadership may lead towards high prosociality and high returns it does not exceed the effects of a local individual who can exert positive influence in the community. This may suggest that greater individual gains can be had by cooperating and that global hierarchical leadership may not be essential as long as influential individuals exert their influence for public good and not for public ill.

Social Responsibility and Airbnb Hosts: Voices from Northern Cyprus

This study examined relevant linkages between motivational factors to be the owner of P2P accommodation (Airbnb host) and being active in pro-environmental and pro-social actions in life practices using a qualitative research method. Our study contributes to the literature associating the motivations of being an Airbnb host and being active in sustainability issues under the framework of moral values. Furthermore, the study analyzed whether an individual awareness of sustainability practices by Airbnb hosts influences their motivations for social responsibility actions in their hosting practices. The key themes followed were ‘Community Engagement and Pro-Social Practices’, ‘Environmental Consciousness and Pro-environmental Practices’, ‘Family Values on Moral Identity and Legal Compliance’, and ‘Restoration and Cultural Heritage’. Findings revealed that hosts stress the importance of the level of environmental consciousness that is gained from education in fostering social responsibility. Respondents believed that teaching cultural heritage, environmental awareness, and ethical values, especially to children, is crucial to building a responsible society. Additionally, participants expressed a sense of social responsibility through the restoration of idle and old houses, contributing to the preservation of cultural heritage and historical structures. As a context of the moral identity issue of respondent hosts, the influence of family values on the development of moral identity was highlighted. The findings of the study showed that hosts work in a team to implement necessary projects for the benefit of society. The study ends with a discussion of the findings and relevant suggestions for the industry.

It’s Time for Impact: An Analysis of the Prosocial Signals in Social Enterprises

This paper investigates the likelihood and timing of social enterprises’ (SEs) adoption of prosocial signals, such as certifications or specific legal statuses. We framed prosocial signals into governance- and market-oriented, indicating internal prosocial practices and processes, and communicating externally prosocial efforts, respectively. We test and confirm the hypothesis that the prior adoption of governance-oriented signals increases the likelihood and speed of a SE embracing market-oriented signals. The maturity (e.g. age of the firm) and the managerialization (e.g. number of managers) of SEs positively moderates this relationship. To conduct this study, we hand collected data from 184 Italian SEs, of which 56 took the legal status of Benefit Corporation and the B Corp certification, representing governance- and market-oriented signals, respectively, and 128 that did not. This work provides academics and practitioners implications on the sequence and complementarity of prosocial signals.

The Consequences of the Pandemic: Pro-Social Practices and Community Solidarity

The relevance of the work is in studying the impact of pro-social practices on the social solidarity of society after the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of the study was pro-social practices and processes of social solidarity in a pandemic. The research methods were electronic diaries of participants in pro-social practices and their publications on social networks about which events they took part in. As a result of the study, we found that a decrease in habitual activity led to a desire to seek additional activity, its main motives are four key meanings of prosocial activity (care for others, participation in socially useful activities, the opportunity to share one’s experience and knowledge, form social capital, be useful and needed by other people). Among pro-socially active people, a high level of trust in the government has been established, which was formed during the pandemic and continues to this day as an internal confidence in the correctness of decisions made at any level, while fear as a social phenomenon that took shape during the start of the pandemic now continues, but is transforming into new levels and forms of anxiety. The key role of negative emotional experiences and emotional stress is emphasized, the counterbalance (struggle) against which was participation in prosocial practices, emphasis is placed on strengthening the best and worst qualities of a person in a pandemic and participation in prosocial activities, this either enhances positive or smooths out negative qualities. It is also concluded that education and health are more important than consumption, this determines the format of new meaningful life guidelines for participants in pro-social practices. The novelty of this study lies in the conclusion that the consequence of the new living conditions after the pandemic are alternative behaviors, new meanings of life and life scenarios. The prospect of further research is to monitor the more distant consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, their impact on social identity and community solidarity.

Great Chinese famine, corporate social responsibility and firm value

We conceptualize that CEOs who endure traumatic experiences stemming from man-made disasters practice less corporate social responsibility. We exploit a natural experiment—the Great Chinese Famine—to empirically test this hypothesis. We find that (i) firms with CEOs who experienced the Great Chinese Famine score lower in corporate social responsibility ratings than a comparison group; (ii) this relationship is mainly driven by prosocial practices tied to employee relations, environmental protection, supplier relations, and community contributions; and (iii) this negative relationship is more pronounced in firms whose CEOs were younger when they experienced the famine, (iv) the positive relationship between CSR scores and firm value is more pronounced in firms with CEO without famine experiences. These results are robust in the face of several sources of endogeneity. Our study contributes to ongoing research regarding how top executives' early experiences affect their managerial decisions. It also enriches work surrounding corporate social responsibility and the plausibly exogenous determinants of prosocial preferences.

Prosocial practices of mortality interpretation: racial-anthropological and sociocultural aspects

Background. The perception of mortality is consistent with pro-social practices that determine social development. Combining the tools of racial-anthropological and sociocultural approaches makes it possible to identify the universal characteristics and interpretations of mortality in modern society.Aim of the study: identification of pro-social practices and specific interpretations of mortality through the unity and opposition of the racial-anthropological and socio-cultural aspects of social reproduction.Methods. A mass survey of the population of the Russian Federation (n = 1200) aged 18 to 65 living in different regions of the Russian Federation (55 % women, 45 % men) was conducted. A content analysis of media and Internet materials was performed to fix estimates of death and mortality in the Russian Federation over the past five years (n = 1456) in publications or informational messages.Results. The impact of the anthropological and sociocultural aspects was manifested through how and what people think about death, as well as how death exists in a social context. The personal-psychological context of the perception of death and mortality, the memorialization of places of death and the socio-economic and cultural-organizational practices of death determine the personal and social forms of interpretation of mortality. Content analysis of media materials and the Internet revealed a significant increase in the volume and frequency of attention to death and mortality. This is due to the situation with the pandemic, as well as the actualization of the fears of Russians about their well-being and social conditions for accepting and assessing death and mortality.Conclusion. Prosocial practices, being a personal experience of experiencing and a tool for social inclusion in acceptable norms of behavior, influence sociocultural meanings and anthropological conditions for the perception of mortality.

Exploring the positive discipline practices of parents of children aged 1–5 years in Aotearoa New Zealand

Despite more than a century of academic scrutiny on parental discipline of children, parents’ use of positive discipline practices is not well understood. This article draws from a larger study (Southey, 2020) aimed at understanding the prosocial practices parents use to guide their children’s social, emotional, and behavioural development, and how they are informed in their practices. Findings suggest parents used positive discipline strategies at higher rates than coercive strategies. In terms of information and support, early childhood education (ECE) teachers were found to be the leading source of professional support for parents. This article recommends further research to understand the supporting role of ECE teachers.

Social capital mediates the effect of socio‐economic status on prosocial practices: Evidence from the CGSS 2012 survey

AbstractAlthough the relationship between socio‐economic status (SES) and prosocial practices has been extensively studied, little is known about the role that social capital plays in this relationship. This study examines the mediating effect of different forms of social capital, including informal neighbourhood capital, membership in voluntary associations, and professional connection, on the relationship between SES and prosocial practices. A total of 3,300 urban samples and 2,170 rural samples from the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) 2012 were selected to conduct two‐group structural equation modelling. Our results suggested that (a) all three forms of social capital mediated the effect of SES on donating, but only informal neighbourhood capital and membership mediated the effect of SES on volunteering, and (b) SES had a different relationship with social capital in urban China than in rural China. SES had a weak positive correlation with informal neighbourhood capital in rural areas but a negative one in urban areas. SES also had a stronger relationship with membership in voluntary associations in rural areas. Our analyses support the notion that higher SES promotes prosocial practices through social capital.

Design and Appropriation of Computer-supported Self-scheduling Practices in Healthcare Shift Work

Shift scheduling impacts healthcare workers' well-being because it sets the frame for their social life and recreational activities. Since it is complex and time-consuming, it has become a target for automation. However, existing systems mostly focus on improving efficiency. The workers' needs and their active participation do not play a pronounced role. Contrasting this trend, we designed a social practice-based, worker-centered, and well-being-oriented self-scheduling system which gives healthcare workers more control during shift planning. In a following nine month appropriation study, we found that workers who were cautious about their social standing in the group or who had a more spontaneous personal lifestyle used our system less often than others. Moreover, we revealed several conflict prevention practices and suggest to shift the focus away from a competitive shift distribution paradigm towards supporting these pro-social practices. We conclude with guidelines to support individual planning practices, self-leadership, and for dealing with conflicts.

Formation of human capital and pro-social attitudes of future teachers and university students

The formation of human capital in various spheres of society is perceived as a special value. The role of a person with his cognitive and non-cognitive abilities is associated with transformations, competitiveness, and the pace of development of society. This is especially true for “helping” professions that involve activities in the dyads “person - person”, “person - team”, “person - society”. These professions include teachers, police officers, etc. The purpose of the article is to identify the opportunities and social practices of higher education institutions aimed at the formation of human capital and pro-social attitudes of university students. Research methods are: content analysis of regulatory sources, analysis of materials in open access databases; a survey among students of two universities: the Belgorod State National Research University (180 people) and the Belgorod Law Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia named after I.V. Putilina (112 people). The object was the pro-social practices of universities in the formation of human capital. As a result of the study, a “cloud” of associations with the terms “human capital”, “pro-social attitude of the personality” and “higher education” was identified, which included “good”, “potential”, “investment”, “competitiveness”, etc. Prosocial legislative initiatives at the level of the state and individual universities. The prevailing levels of student involvement in pro-social practices were identified (average – 43.15%; above average – 15.75%; high – 11.75%), the priority of educational (64.5%) and practice-oriented (64%) microenvironments. the university in the formation of human capital, as well as the degree of participation of students in various types and spheres of social activity, taking into account the influence of the university (by ranks: 1) educational and developmental; 2) public pedagogical (public service); 3) leisure, sports; sociocultural; 4) health oriented; 5) altruistic (unselfish), volunteer; civil, patriotic) of the 13 positions under consideration. In total, the factors influencing the effectiveness of the formation of human capital at the university were formulated (the level of the legal framework; the capabilities of the university; the needs of society and consumers of educational services; the student's attitude); the control effects of the integration of the mission of the university, the competitiveness of its subjects, the corporate value of human resources are proposed. Prospects are associated with the development of an integrative concept for the formation of a pro-social attitude of students of universities.

Aww effect: Engaging consumers in “non-cute” prosocial initiatives with cuteness

Engaging consumers in prosocial practices can increase their favorable responses toward a company. We suggest that cuteness cues of a third party (i.e., neither beneficiary nor benefactor) spur consumer engagement in such practices. It is well-known that a cute X stands a higher chance of being helped than a non-cute Y. This research examines a novel effect of cuteness which we call the “aww effect”: How does an exposure to a cute X influence consumers’ prosociality benefitting a non-cute Y? The results from four studies show that viewing cute images and listening to cute sounds prompt prosocial responses enhancing the welfare of a non-cute target. Moreover, cuteness cues increase the effectiveness of an appeal emphasizing benefits to non-cute targets (vs. benefits to the self). Taken together, our findings lend converging support to the aww effect and inform marketers of an effective use of cuteness cues to engage consumers in prosocial initiatives.

Contemporary Volunteering in the Formation of Prosocial Behaviour of a Person

Introduction.In modern society, there is a growing demand for the spread of prosocial practices, among which the leading role is given to the volunteer movement. In this regard, the actual pedagogical task is the education of a prosocial person - a member of the public, whose activity is focused on the gratuitous societal service and is resulted from altruistic motives. Students are potential members, who can be involved in such activities. Student community is considered as a special social group, which is characterised by the highest degree of civic activity, the desire for self-organisation and self-realisation in various spheres of life.Theaimsof the research presented in the article are to identify and analyse the attitude of youth to different types of volunteering; to justify the need for support and development of the volunteer movement as one of the main conditions for the safe and sustainable existence of society.Methodology and research methods.The research was based on personal and socio-cognitive approaches to the process of education of the new generation, as well as on the key provisions of the theory of social security. The methods of focus group research, interviews, questionnaires and Internet surveys were employed as tools for information collection. The data obtained were generalised and processed using qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis, including content analysis, percentage analysis, correlation analysis through Pearson coefficient and factor analysis (principal component method, varimax rotation). The calculations were made with the use of the statistical software package SPPS 17.Results and scientific novelty.The phenomenon of volunteering is considered as an important factor of social solidarity and social trust and as a form of safe prosocial behaviour of the individual. Based on the responses of respondents, who took part in the surveys, typical ideas about the motivation of the volunteer, his or her personal qualities and conditions of familiarising with various volunteer practices are identified, studied and generalised. The authors built up a psychological profile of a modern young man, capable of voluntary selfless acts for the benefit of others. Three groups of factors of formation of prosocial behaviour in the youth environment are allocated: social and ecological, educational and civil, cultural and religious. The types of volunteer activities are ranked according to the degree of their influence on the social well-being of the people around them in society according to the potential of gratuitous benefit for other people. From the perspective of the Russian Government and student community, it was revealed that there are some differences in assessing the potential of volunteerism in terms of the importance of selfless actions that contribute to human well-being in society. Conflicting priorities defined by the survey participants, and, the range of activities proclaimed in the Concept of development of volunteerism (volunteering) in the Russian Federation until 2025, can be connected with students’ insufficient awareness on voluntary projects or can be indicative for the risks of socialisation of young people.Practical significance.The present research, on the one hand, enriches the field of knowledge about the essence of safe prosocial behaviour of the individual and, on the other hand, this study has a practice-oriented significance, as it can serve as a basis for the development of methods of psychological and pedagogical impact on the development of human readiness for prosocial behaviour, implemented through voluntary activity.

Do Hybrid Firms Out-Provide Traditional Business Structures? An Examination of Prosocial Behavior in North Carolina Firms

With the rise of social enterprises has come a push for formal hybrid legal forms. Hybrid structures formalize a for-profit model with a social mission but carry no tax benefits. Using the case of North Carolina, this article examines a sample of formal hybrid firms and variation in their prosocial practices compared with informal social enterprises and traditional for-profit and nonprofit entities. Using firm-level survey data, Poisson estimations reveal that formal hybrid firms are associated with additional production-related prosocial practices as compared with traditional for-profits, informal social enterprises with both for-profit and nonprofit structures, and traditional nonprofits. This study contributes to the literatures on organizational identity and prosocial behavior as well as to the field of social enterprise by offering a comparison of formal and informal hybrid identification with a relatively large sample quantitative analysis.

Shaped by their daughters: Executives, female socialization, and corporate social responsibility

Corporate executives managing some of the largest public companies in the U.S. are shaped by their daughters. When a firm’s chief executive officer (CEO) has a daughter, the corporate social responsibility rating (CSR) is about 9.1% higher, compared to a median firm. The results are robust to confronting several sources of endogeneity, e.g., examining first-born CEO daughters and CEO changes. The relation is strongest for diversity, but significant also for broader pro-social practices related to the environment and employee relations. Our study contributes to research on female socialization, heterogeneity in CSR policies, and plausibly exogenous determinants of CEOs’ styles.

Efectos de las prácticas parentales en la empatía y la conducta prosocial de preadolescentes

Aim: to analyze the effects of parenting practices on empathy and prosocial behaviors of tweens. Method: 204 Mexican preteens of between 10 and 13 years of age (M = 11.49, DE =. 739) participated in the study; the multidimensional scale of empathy (Diaz-Loving, Andrade, & Nadelsticher, 1986), the scale of parental prosocial practices and the scale of prosocial conduct towards pairs (Zacarias- salinas, 2014) were applied. Models of paths were traced in order to analyze data. Results: the affection and the parental communication have direct effects in the empathic compassion, and this one, in turn, affects the prosocial conduct. The use of rewards and physical punishments as parental practices has not shown direct effects in the empathy nor in the prosocial conduct. Conclusion: the parental actions affect the development of the prosocial trends of their children.

Shaped by Their Daughters: Executives, Female Socialization, and Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate executives managing some of the largest public companies in the U.S. are shaped by their daughters. When a firm's CEO has a daughter, the corporate social responsibility rating is about 9.1% higher, compared to a median firm. The results are robust to confronting several sources of endogeneity, e.g., examining first-born CEO daughters and CEO changes. The relation is strongest for diversity, but significant also for broader pro-social practices related to the environment and employee relations. Our study contributes to research on female socialization, heterogeneity in CSR policies, and plausibly exogenous determinants of CEOs' styles.

Environmental management strategy and organizational citizenship behaviors in the hotel industry

PurposeRecently, the hotel industry has increased its adoption of environmental management practices. Because the research on hotel environmental management often overlooks organizational factors, this study aims to investigate the effects of an environmental management strategy (EMS) on organizational citizenship behavior and tested the mediating roles of organizational trust and commitment in explaining those effects.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey of US hotel employees yielded 373 complete responses. Data were analyzed with structural equation modeling.FindingsEMS positively affected organizational trust and commitment, which ultimately influenced organizational citizenship behavior. Furthermore, organizational trust and commitment fully mediated the relationship between EMS and organizational citizenship behavior.Practical implicationsThe results establish the foundation for applying EMS in organizational operations. The findings can benefit managers, as they show how hotel firms’ prosocial practices can enhance employees’ positive behaviors.Originality/valueDespite the importance of employee attitudes and behaviors, little is known about the mechanism by which employees perceive the influence of an EMS on organizational citizenship behaviors. Therefore, the study examined organizational trust and commitment as mediators of the relationship between EMS and organizational citizenship behavior.

Towards a positive organizational study of family-owned businesses: Embracing a fertile territory

In response to the lead article “The study of organizational behavior in Family Business” (this issue), the present commentary focuses on the study of family-owned businesses from a positive organizational perspective with the aim of enriching the avenues for research proposed by the authors. Based on the socioemotional wealth approach, it is argued that family-owned firms represent a unique organizational context to advance positive organizational scholarship (POS) concepts. Likewise, the field of POS is emphasized as an important field of study to increase our understanding of family-owned businesses. In a selective review of the literature, the topic of prosocial practices is discussed. In doing so, it is hoped that scholars begin embracing the fertile territory at the interface between POS and family-business research.