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Prosocial behaviours in adolescents: internalized values vs externalized factors
Author
Kuck, Xuanling
Supervisor
Cheng, Yuan Shan
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the contributing factors that will motivate an adolescent to decide whether to help a stranger in distress. Two types of questionnaires were distributed to 247 teenage participants (mean age = 14.57, 167 females and 80 males). The questionnaire for Group A participants (n = 151) was in reference to their own behaviours; and Group B participants (n = 96) completed the questionnaire in relation to their friends’ behaviours. Results showed that internalized values and past experiences are most likely to play a significant role in influencing the youths from Group A to help a stranger in distress. It was found that adolescents are likely to attribute the reasons for their prosocial behaviours to altruism and responded that the presence of external help is not a significant factor. They also attributed their helpfulness to them feeling empathic for the person in distress, but did not attribute empathy to their friends’ actions. On the other hand, youths rated low level of empathy as the highest contributing factor for their decision to be selfish; and that altruism was the least important factor that accounted for their decision not to help. However, closer analyses revealed that the differences between each factor are not statistically significant. They further postulated that their friend is likely to be selfish as s/he is not altruistic and could have negative experiences in the past which stopped them from behaving prosocially. The implication from the study is that to encourage youths to behave prosocially, inculcating prosocial values to build an altruistic personality since young is essential. However, the generalizability of the study may be affected as the sample population may not be representative of the entire youth population in Singapore.
Date Issued
2013
Call Number
BF637.H4 Kuc
Date Submitted
2013