Prosocial

Prosocial is an orientation toward the welfare of others and society as a whole. This might be an attitude, a behavior (e.g. helping, sharing, donating, cooperating, volunteering), or an institution. It might be directed toward family and friends or the social acceptance of all people. Ultimately, Prosocial is an entire worldview.

Core Design Principles

Core Design Principle 1: Shared Identity and Purpose

“A group functions best when its members clearly understand its purpose and perceive that purpose as worthwhile. A group also functions best when it offers a strong shared identity that helps group members understand who is in or out of the group, increases pride and pleasure in belonging, and guides and coordinates behavior through shared norms and values.

1. Key behaviors: Continuous informal and formal consideration and use of purpose in group activities. Clarify who is in the group (and who is not). Establish clear criteria for membership.
2. Key outcomes: Members understand and believe in the value of the purpose of the group. Members have a shared sense of identity, both as a sense of belonging and of caring for others in the group.
3. Key assessment question: To what extent do group members feel a sense of belonging and shared purpose with the group?
4. Key planning questions: What do we most care about? How can we create a sense of caring, belonging, and safety in the group?
5. Example methods: At its core, implementing principle 1 involves continual reflection on purpose and the use of group purpose as a guide for daily action. Members can facilitate reflection by working with strengths-based questions, such as “What are we doing at our best?” or using tools such as the collective matrix. Outputs include mission, vision, and values statements, though these are less important than continual reflection on the direction in which the group is going.

Core Design Principle 2: Equitable Distribution of Contributions and Benefits

For groups to function well, the effort and other forms of contribution required of its members, and the benefits of that effort, need to be distributed fairly.

1. Key values: Equity.
2. Key behaviors: Pay attention to individual costs and benefits and balance them appropriately.
3. Key outcomes: Group members feel valued and rewarded for their contributions.
4. Key assessment question: To what extent are the demands and benefits of participating in this group distributed equitably among its members?
5. Key planning question: How will we ensure fairness in this group?
6. Example methods: There are a variety of tools one can use to encourage the fair distribution of contributions and benefits. Begin by ensuring role clarity and transparency. From there, create channels for the open discussion of fairness and grievances; include training in communication skills to encourage assertiveness (so those who perceive unfairness can come forward) and the ability to listen to multiple perspectives (so those in management or those who may be benefiting from unfair structures can hear the concerns and respond).

Core Design Principle 3: Fair and Inclusive Decision Making

Robust evidence in psychology shows that the motivation, commitment, and long-term well-being of people comes from giving them control over their own actions.

1. Key values: Individual self-determination (empowerment), making good decisions.
2. Key behaviors: Collective choice processes—that is, including group members in all decisions that affect them (for example, consent-based decision making).
3. Key outcomes: Members know their interests and perspectives have been considered fairly and efficiently.
4. Key assessment question: To what extent do group members feel involved in making the decisions that affect them?
5. Key planning question: How will we decide in a way that involves those who need and want to be involved?
6. Example methods: Principle 3 can take the form of formal processes of consent-based decision making. But in some circumstances, such as those involving very large groups or corporate settings, consultation with a designated leader or representative, fair informal systems of voting, or even the opportunity to make objections (veto powers) can be enough and can even be more efficient.

Core Design Principle 4: Monitoring Agreed Behaviors

1. Key values: Transparency.
2. Key behaviors: Processes to enhance the visibility of behaviors of group members to each other.
3. Key outcomes: Misbehaviors are quickly detected at low cost to the group using processes such as pairing people with peers to whom they are accountable.
4. Key assessment question: To what extent do group members know what others in the group are doing?
5. Key planning questions: How can we be aware of what each other is doing? How can our behaviors be transparent?
6. Example methods: Meetings, reporting, role swapping, and other activities that help group members notice and assess what others are doing.

Core Design Principle 5: Graduated Responding to Helpful and Unhelpful Behavior

Monitoring is often better performed by peers as part of the normal interaction of group members. Implementing this core design principle begins with creating a shared intent to respond to behavior, not to ignore it either because doing so risks conflict or because one does not have sufficient time. Excerpt From: Paul W.B. Atkins, David Sloan Wilson & Steven C. Hayes. “Prosocial.” Apple Books. https://books.apple.com/us/book/prosocial/id1449551321

1. Key values: Learning, compassion, competence.
2. Key behaviors: Responding at an appropriate level of intensity to either encourage or discourage behaviors that are contributing to or detracting from cooperation.
3. Key outcomes: Group members feeling valued and appreciated, feeling empowered to respond to transgressions, and having shared valuing and a commitment to high performance in the context of responding compassionately to mistakes.
4. Key assessment questions: If someone behaves in a way that is unhelpful or disruptive in this group, to what extent do people respond appropriately to discourage that behavior? If someone behaves in a way that is helpful or cooperative in this group, to what extent do people respond appropriately to encourage that behavior?
5. Key planning question: How should we respond to one another to encourage cooperation and discourage unhelpful behaviors?
6. Example methods: Creating clear agreements for consequences, buddy systems, and coaching-based conversations about performance help promote cooperative behaviors and discourage uncooperative behaviors.