Much of what we tend to focus on when we study social psychology
Prosocial Behavior
Much of what we tend to focus on when we study social psychology are topics that often have a negative connotation such as conformity, prejudice, aggression or obedience. A huge component of the study of social psychology; however, focuses on prosocial behavior – behaviors that focus on compassion and helping others. For this activity, you will focus on this more uplifting aspect of social psychology. Topics that fall under the area of prosocial behavior include altruism, helping, bystander intervention, empathy, and compassion, among others.
For this exercise, pick one day and seek to structure your thoughts and behaviors entirely around helping others. With each interaction or action you take, pause to think and ask yourself “is there a way I might help another here?” Hold a door for someone, offer your seat, share a smile, give a sincere compliment, show empathy to another, attempt to be more patient or understanding, etc. Your efforts should be in social settings that involve interactions with others (rather than something such as donating to a charity for instance). The goal is to be as thoughtfully prosocial in your interactions throughout the day as possible.
At the beginning of the day, jot down your general mood, feelings, attitude, etc.
Then throughout the day, whenever possible, carry a small notebook with you or make notes in an app on your phone to jot down meaningful encounters or experiences as you attempt to engage in prosocial behaviors.
At the end of the day, again reflect and take notes on how you feel, your general mood, feelings and attitudes, etc.
In a 5-7 slide PowerPoint presentation, not counting title or reference slides:
Summarize your experience. Describe the prosocial behaviors you engaged in, others’ reactions to these behaviors, and your assessment of any changes in mood, attitude, good fortune, or anything else of note you experienced.
Review what you have learned about human behavior in social settings this week in your readings and CogBooks activities. Connect what you learned or experienced through your day of conscious, prosocial behavior with the terms, concepts, and theories from your research. Integrate at least two academic sources (your assigned readings/resources can comprise one of these sources), citing any references used in APA format.
Describe any new insights you gained through this experience about your interactions with others on a daily basis, including any behaviors you wish to change or to continue.
Use the features of PowerPoint to your advantage to communicate your ideas – include pictures, audio recorded narration, speaker’s notes, video, links, etc. as appropriate to enhance your ideas.
Include an APA formatted title slide and reference slide. APA components such as an abstract, headings, etc. are not required since this is a PowerPoint presentation.
Submit your presentation as an attachment in the Week 7 Assignment Prosocial Behavior link in the Assignments area of the classroom no later than 11:55 pm EST Sunday of Week 7.
Week 7 Exercise: Prosocial Behavior
Component
Excellent
Satisfactory
Needs Improvement
Unsatisfactory
Points Earned
Describe the prosocial behaviors, reactions and impact
50 Points Possible
Student provides a detailed, insightful description of prosocial behavior, reactions and impact on others.
Student provides a complete description of prosocial behavior, reactions and impact on others.
Student provides a marginal description of prosocial behavior, reactions and impact on others.
Student does not describe prosocial behavior, reactions or impact on others.
Connection of experiences to theory
50 Points Possible
Student provides an accurate, thorough description of the connections between experiences and relevant psychological theory using many examples from the literature.
Student provides a mostly accurate description of the connections between experiences and relevant psychological theory using at least two examples from the literature.
Student provides a marginal description of the connections between experiences and relevant psychological theory using at least one example from the literature.
Student does not provide a description of the connections between experiences and relevant psychological theory.
Behavioral insights and changes/continuation
20 Points Possible
Student provides an insightful analysis of new insights gained from the experience and describes several behavioral changes or consistencies of which they are now aware.
Student provides an analysis of new insights gained from the experience and describes some behavioral changes or consistencies of which they are now aware.
Student provides a marginal analysis of new insights gained from the experience and describes at least one behavioral change or consistency of which they are now aware.
Student does not analyze new insights gained from the experience or describes several behavioral changes or consistencies of which they are now aware.
Formatting/Writing
30 Points Possible
Work is presented in a logical and coherent way. Writing is clear, articulate, and error free. Citations are composed in proper format with few or no errors.
Work is grammatically sound with a few minor errors. Citations are composed in the proper format with some errors.
Work contains frequent grammatical errors. Citations are inaccurate or improperly formatted.
Work does not demonstrate appropriate undergraduate level writing.
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