Intended or likely to help other people, cooperation, or society.
Reach for it when describing behavior by its social benefit without making a total judgment about character
The school reinforces prosocial behavior such as sharing tools and including newcomers.
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| warm | |
| professional |
|
| formal |
everyday
Fits when an action directly assists someone
Careful Helpful acts may benefit one person while harming a wider group.
warm
Fits when attention to local collective welfare is visible
Careful The phrase does not fit private interpersonal help or broad social policy.
professional
Fits when behavior improves a group situation
Careful Constructive action can be solitary and need not benefit other people directly.
professional
Fits when people work together toward a shared result
Careful Cooperation can serve an exclusionary or harmful goal.
formal
Fits when concern for others appears to outweigh self-interest
Careful Motives are hard to verify, while prosocial describes effects or behavior.
formal
other-oriented
Fits when attention is directed toward others' needs
Careful The technical phrase can ignore mutual benefit and healthy self-protection.
prosocial behavior
Prosocial behavior includes asking before offering help.
prosocial skills
The games teach prosocial skills without rewarding forced agreement.
prosocial action
One prosocial action can improve a group without defining a person's whole character.
Keep in mind
Prosocial describes behavior or effects, not moral worth. Cooperation is not prosocial when it enables harm or coerces participation.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Updated
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