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prosocial behavior

·April 29, 2025·4 min read

Brain Mechanisms Behind Why Some Individuals Are More Likely to Help

A new study explores why some individuals are more inclined to help others, finding key differences in brain activity and oxytocin signaling. In rats, those that helped distressed peers showed increased activation in empathy- and motivation-related brain regions.

This shows a person giving food to another.

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·April 28, 2025·4 min read

The Psychology Behind Why Some People Give More Than Others

A new analysis of over 90,000 participants shows that personality traits influence how people engage in volunteering and charitable giving. Researchers found that extraverts are more likely to volunteer, while agreeable individuals are more inclined to donate money.

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·March 11, 2025·5 min read

Eating Seafood Linked to Kinder, More Socially Skilled Young Children

Children who regularly eat seafood at age 7 exhibit more positive social behaviors—such as sharing, helping, and interacting kindly—by ages 7 and 9, compared to those who rarely consume seafood. This finding, from a large study tracking nearly 6,000 children, underscores seafood’s role in supporting behavioral and social development during childhood.

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·December 1, 2023·4 min read

How Imagination Fuels Empathy and Prosocial Behavior

A new study highlights the significant role of imagination in evoking empathy and driving prosocial behavior. While empathy is multifaceted, this research focuses on two aspects: personal distress and compassionate concern. The study reveals that vividly imagining someone else's problems increases personal distress, motivating individuals to offer help.

This shows a woman drinking a hot drink with a friend

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·August 18, 2022·4 min read

Random Acts of Kindness Make a Bigger Splash Than Expected

People often underestimate the positive emotions and outcomes people who are the recipients of random acts of kindness feel.

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·June 2, 2022·7 min read

What Oxytocin Can Tell Us About the Evolution of Human Prosociality

Study sheds new light on the genetics underlying possible social differences between modern humans, our ancestors, and other primate species.

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·November 16, 2021·4 min read

Cortex Suppression Resolves Motivation Conflict in Favor of Prosociality

Using transcranial magnetic stimulation to suppress excitability in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex enhanced prosocial behaviors.

This shows a man offering a helping hand to a man sitting on a street

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·November 13, 2021·4 min read

COVID-19 Has a Negative Influence on Prosocial Behavior

COVID-19 infections in families widened the prosocial gap almost three-fold between people with higher socioeconomic status and those from backgrounds of lower socioeconomic status.

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·September 27, 2021·4 min read

Psychedelics Linked to Social Bonding and Prosocial Behaviors in Ravers

Drums, dance, sleep deprivation, and drugs, referred to as the 4D's in the rave scene was associated with personal transformation for those who considered a rave to be an awe-inspiring event. The more a person felt personally transformed by the experience, the more bonded to the fellow ravers they felt. This phenomenon may explain the long-standing popularity of the rave scene.

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·May 1, 2021·4 min read

The ‘Bystander Effect’ Is Real; But Research Shows That When More People Witness Violence, It’s More Likely Someone Will Step up and Intervene

While many people freeze while witnessing a violent event, researchers say nine times out of ten, at least one person will intervene to help the victim.

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·September 3, 2020·4 min read

When Doing Good Boosts Health and Well-Being

Prosocial behavior is good for people's health and wellbeing, but not all altruistic acts are equally beneficial for the giver.

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·April 4, 2020·4 min read

Anterior insula activation restores prosocial behavior in animal model of opioid addiction

Using chemogenetic methods, researchers activated neurons in the anterior insular and increased prosocial behavior in rodent models of opioid addiction.