Comparing Prosocial Behaviour in China and the US: Why is China the Lowest?

Why do you think China had the lowest level of helping behaviours? How do you think America compared? 

Keywords: Prosocial behaviour, China, US, Children's Television Act, Academic Performance, Altruistic Behaviour, Social Cohesion, Harmonious Social Environments, Empathy, Moral Disengagement, Helping Behaviour

In the US, the Children's Television Act was passed in 1990 with the goal of introducing services and pro-social programs to children. The report notes that channels must produce and air content specially designed for children to renew broadcasting licences. Following debates about what "specifically intended for infants" means, standards for the correction of this uncertainty were passed in 1996. On the contrary, after several decades of eradicating classic values China become less prosocial. The traditional aspects of prosocial behaviour: exchanging and donating of money, supporting others, volunteering for charity and assisting the vulnerable. A wealth of studies reveals that prosocial behaviour, including academic performance, personal happiness, social competence and subjective health, is correlated with different facets of healthy youth development (Eisenberg & Paul Henry Mussen, 1989). Interestingly, prosocial growth findings are rare in Chinese teenagers in contrast to the high number of anti-social activity studies. 

 

And, do YOU have to be the one to help?  Why or why not? Explain, and give one example of a time you exhibited prosocial behaviour.

Prosocial activity extends to altruistic behaviours, such as the comfort and support of others, as well as the sharing and delivery of the neediest. The examination of prosocial behaviour, which makes cohesion easier for the social group, is important as it forms part of everyday coexistence among different people in a society. In addition, prosocial behaviours, which is contrasted with violent behaviour, can help to create more harmonious social environments by helping the more vulnerable in a community (Paciello et al., 2013). Prosocial activity is an intervention meant solely for the good of others. 



References

Eisenberg, N., & Paul Henry Mussen. (1989). The roots of prosocial behavior in children. Cambridge University Press.

Paciello, M., Fida, R., Cerniglia, L., Tramontano, C., & Cole, E. (2013). High cost helping scenario: The role of empathy, prosocial reasoning and moral disengagement on helping behavior. Personality and Individual Differences, 55(1), 3–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2012.11.004