An Analysis of Prosocial Behavior in College Students

Abstract

Volunteering, which is an important form of prosocial behavior, has an enormous impact on the well-being of communities and our daily lives. In 2013, it was estimated that $173 billion worth of time and energy was spent volunteering. The aim in this study was to learn more about prosocial behavior and altruism by examining how traditional values, gender, personality, and religion are associated with prosocial behavior among college students. Data were collected through surveys given to 80 students (71 female and 9 male) that were composed of the Traditional Values Measure, the Honest Humility subscale of the HEXACO, the Generalized Expectancy for Success Scale, and a volunteer activity chart designed specifically for this study. It was hypothesized that prosocial behavior would be positively correlated with religious involvement, honest or humble personalities, and traditional values. Correlational analyses did not support this hypothesis. In addition, there were no expected differences between the amount of prosocial behavior provided by males or females, and this null hypothesis was supported in the current investigation. In future studies, a larger sample size, more gender diversity, and more variety in the field of study would possibly yield significant results when looking at helping behavior in college students. Given the positive impacts of volunteering and prosocial behavior, studies such as this help to inform researchers how to increase prosocial behaviors that better communities and lives.