Altruism and Cooperation

Topic 8 – Altruism and Cooperation

Prosocial Behavior (Obj. 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, IFLW)

The purpose of this assignment is to illustrate what you have learned about prosocial behavior and apply concepts of altruism and cooperation to your own life. You may type directly into this worksheet.

While APA format is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and in-text citations and references should be presented using APA documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

Instructions:

First, implement three acts of kindness (prosocial behavior) or an entire day of compassion and kindness. Use your discretion, common sense, and modesty at all times. Do not put yourself in an environment of potential danger or harm. Some examples of acts might include: Holding the door open for someone, offering to babysit for free, dropping off cookies to a neighbor, texting a family member you haven’t spoken to recently, posting a positive message on social media, writing a card for a resident at a nursing home, cleaning up dinner dishes for your family, and so forth. Use the Topic 8 resources to assist with your writing.

Please integrate a minimum of two peer-reviewed articles from the GCU Library to support your writing. Your response to each question should be at least 200 words.

1. Describe your implementation of kindness: what you did, where you implemented it, and to whom. What reactions did you receive from others? How did those reactions make you feel?

2. Consider your own motivations for prosocial behavior. How does social exchange theory explain the ways in which you choose to help others? How do social norms and reciprocal altruism predict how and when you help others?

3. Per the Chapter 9 readings, there are two opposing theories of why we help others- the negative state relief model and the empathy-altruism model. Compare these two models, and explain which you most agree with and why. Offer examples illustrating these models at work in your own life.

4. If you are a faith-based person, explain how your faith helped you implement your helping behavior. If you are not a faith-based person, explain what philosophy, belief system, or values you connected to helping behavior. How might the concept of social responsibility norms play a role here?

5. Review the Topic 8 resources on Servant Leadership. What elements of servant leadership relate to what you learned about prosocial behavior? How might you use the tenants of Servant Leadership and the concepts from your readings to be a better servant leader?

References

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