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Prosocial behavior: multilevel perspectives
Louis A Penner1, John F Dovidio, Jane A Piliavin
1Karmanos Cancer Institute/Family Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 40202, USA. pennerl@karmanos.org
Annual Review of Psychology
|February 16, 2005
Summary
This study organizes prosocial behavior research using a multilevel framework. It examines helper-recipient dyads (meso), origins of prosocial tendencies (micro), and group actions (macro) for future research integration.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Sociology
Background:
- Prosocial behavior research is diverse and broad.
- A unified framework is needed to organize existing literature.
- Existing studies often focus on isolated aspects of prosociality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a multilevel framework for organizing prosocial behavior research.
- To identify and define three distinct levels of analysis: meso, micro, and macro.
- To guide future integrated research on prosocial behavior.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis.
- Conceptual framework development.
- Analysis of existing research across different levels.
Main Results:
- Identified three levels of analysis: meso (dyads), micro (individual origins), and macro (group/organizational actions).
- Presented examples of research at each level.
- Highlighted similarities and differences across the identified levels.
Conclusions:
- A multilevel perspective offers a comprehensive way to understand prosocial behavior.
- Integrating research across meso, micro, and macro levels is crucial for advancing the field.
- Future research should focus on interdisciplinary and intra-disciplinary integration of these levels.