Prosocial Motives, Emotions, and Behavior: The Better Angels of Our Nature (Herzliya Personality and Social Psychology)

"In recent years, psychological scientists' narrow focus on negative emotions and antisocial behavior has broadened to include a panoply of positive emotions such as empathy, compassion, gratitude, and forgiveness and a new emphasis on prosocial, generous, altruistic behavior. At the same time, neuroscientists, primatologists, and evolutionary biologists have begun to identify the evolutionary and neurological roots of prosocial feelings and actions. Research shows that human beings have an innate capacity for prosocial behavior, but the inclinations underlying such behavior can be inhibited or overpowered in selfish, neurotic, or culturally engrained attitudes and values. Genes, personality, past social experiences, social and cultural identities, and contextual factors can all influence the degree to which human behavior is empathic and generous or cruel, vindictive, and destructive. Prosocial Motives, Emotions, and Behavior, with a subtitle borrowed from an inaugural address In Abraham Lincoln, is a comprehensive examination of the interplay of these influences. Part I considers theoretical perspectives on prosocial behavior; Part II illuminates the psychological processes that underlie prosocial behavior; Part III focuses on specific emotions such as compassionate love, gratitude, and forgiveness; Part IV examines prosocial behavior between individuals at the dyadic level; and Part V investigates prosocial behavior at the societal level, with an emphasis on solving intractable conflicts and achieving desirable social change. This stimulating, wide-ranging volume is sure to be of great interest to psychologists, social scientists, and anyone with an interest in understanding and fostering prosocial behavior"--Jacket. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) I. Theoretical Perspectives. Empathy-induced Altruistic Motivation / C. Daniel Batson -- Evolutionary Perspectives On Prosocial Behavior / Jeffry A. Simpson And Lane Beckes -- Enduring Goodness : A Person-by-situation Perspective On Prosocial Behavior / Louis A. Penner And Heather Orom -- A Behavioral-systems Perspective On Prosocial Behavior / Phillip R. Shaver, Mario Mikulincer, And Moran Shemesh-iron -- Forms Of Concern : A Psychoanalytic Perspective / Rami Tolmacz -- Neuroscience Meets Social Psychology : An Integrative Approach To Human Empathy And Prosocial Behavior / Grit Hein And Tania Singer -- Ii. Psychological Processes. Empathy-related Responding : Links With Self-regulation, Moral Judgment, And Moral Behavior / Nancy Eisenberg -- Genetic And Environmental Influences On Prosocial Behavior / Ariel Knafo And Salomon Israel -- The Effortful And Energy-demanding Nature Of Prosocial Behavior / Matthew T. Gailliot -- Helping Relations As Status Relations / Arie Nadler, Samer Halabi, Gal Harapz-gorodeisky, And Yael Ben-david -- Compassionate Callousness : A Terror Management Perspective On Prosocial Behavior / Gilad Hirschberger -- Basic Values : How They Motivate And Inhibit Prosocial Behavior / Shalom H. Schwartz. Iii. Prosocial Emotions. Compassionate Love As A Prosocial Emotion / Beverley Fehr -- Does Gratitude Promote Prosocial Behavior? The Moderating Role Of Attachment Security / Mario Mikulincer And Phillip R. Shaver -- The Malleability Of Forgiveness / Johan C. Karremans And Paul A.m. Van Lange -- The Subjective Experience Of Generosity / Eliane Sommerfeld -- Iv. Prosocial Behavior At The Relational Level. Prosocial Motivation And Behavior In Close Relationships / Caryl E. Rusbult And Christopher R. Agnew -- Forgiveness : Integral To A Science Of Close Relationships? / Frank D. Fincham -- Responding To Need In Intimate Relationships : Social Support And Caregiving Processes In Couples / Nancy L. Collins, Máire B. Ford, Anamarie C. Guichard, Heidi S. Kane, And Brooke C. Feeney -- V. Prosocial Behavior At The Group And Societal Levels. Empathy And Intergroup Relations / John F. Dovidio, James D. Johnson, Samuel L. Gaertner, Adam R. Pearson, Tamar Saguy, And Leslie Ashburn-nardo -- A Needs-based Model Of Reconciliation : Perpetrators Need Acceptance And Victims Need Empowerment To Reconcile / Nurit Shnabel And Arie Nadler -- Overcoming Psychological Barriers To Peacemaking : The Influence Of Beliefs About Losses / Daniel Bar-tal And Eran Halperin. Edited By Mario Mikulincer And Phillip R. Shaver. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "In recent years, psychological scientists' narrow focus on negative emotions and antisocial behavior has broadened to include a panoply of positive emotions such as empathy, compassion, gratitude, and forgiveness and a new emphasis on prosocial, generous, altruistic behavior. At the same time, neuroscientists, primatologists, and evolutionary biologists have begun to identify the evolutionary and neurological roots of prosocial feelings and actions. Research shows that human beings have an innate capacity for prosocial behavior, but the inclinations underlying such behavior can be inhibited or overpowered in selfish, neurotic, or culturally engrained attitudes and values. Genes, personality, past social experiences, social and cultural identities, and contextual factors can all influence the degree to which human behavior is empathic and generous or cruel, vindictive, and destructive. Prosocial Motives, Emotions, and Behavior, with a subtitle borrowed from an inaugural address In Abraham Lincoln, is a comprehensive examination of the interplay of these influences. Part I considers theoretical perspectives on prosocial behavior; Part II illuminates the psychological processes that underlie prosocial behavior; Part III focuses on specific emotions such as compassionate love, gratitude, and forgiveness; Part IV examines prosocial behavior between individuals at the dyadic level; and Part V investigates prosocial behavior at the societal level, with an emphasis on solving intractable conflicts and achieving desirable social change. This stimulating, wide-ranging volume is sure to be of great interest to psychologists, social scientists, and anyone with an interest in understanding and fostering prosocial behavior"--Jaquette. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) In recent years, psychological scientists' narrow focus on negative emotions and antisocial behavior has been broadened to include a panoply of positive emotions such as empathy, compassion, gratitude, and forgiveness and a new emphasis on prosocial, generous, altruistic behavior. At the same time, neuroscientists, primatologists, and evolutionary biologists have begun to identify the evolutionary and neurological roots of prosocial feelings and actions. Research shows that human beings have an innate capacity for prosocial behavior, but the inclinations underlying such behavior can be blocked, inhibited, or overpowered by selfish, neurotic, or culturally engrained attitudes and values. Genes, personality, past social experiences, social and cultural identities, and contextual factors can all influence the degree to which human behavior is empathic, generous, and kindor cruel, vindictive, and destructive. Prosocial Motives, Emotions, and The Better Angels of Our Nature , with a subtitle borrowed from an inaugural address by Abraham Lincoln, is a comprehensive examination, from a variety of perspectives, of the interplay of these influences. The book is divided into five This simulating, wide-ranging volume is sure to be of great interest to psychologists, social scientists, and anyone with an interest in understanding and fostering prosocial behavior. This book examines the interplay of positive and negative influences on human behavior from a variety of perspectives. It contains contributions from recognized pioneers of research on prosocial behavior. It also includes contributions from widely recognized experts in their subject areas. It examines several prosocial emotions, such as compassionate love, gratitude, generosity, and forgiveness, showing how these arise in individuals and groups and how they can be fostered.