Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Theory of Attribution I: Correspondent Inference Theory

Theory of Attribution I: Correspondent Inference Theory

Correspondent inference theory, proposed by Jones and Davis in 1965, seeks to explain how individuals infer stable personality traits from observed behaviors. It suggests that people attribute actions to underlying dispositions rather than external circumstances, particularly when the behavior appears intentional and socially significant.Voluntary Behavior and Dispositional AttributionAccording to this theory, individuals are more likely to attribute behavior to personal traits when it appears...

Egoism and Altruism

Egoism and Altruism

Voluntary behavior with the intent to help other people is called prosocial behavior. Why do people help other people? Is personal benefit such as feeling good about oneself the only reason people help one another?

Theory of Attribution II: Kelley's Covariation Theory

Theory of Attribution II: Kelley's Covariation Theory

Attribution theory plays a crucial role in social psychology, helping to explain how individuals interpret the causes of behavior. One prominent model within this field is Harold Kelley's covariation theory, which provides a systematic approach to determining whether internal traits or external circumstances drive a person's actions. The model posits that individuals rely on three key types of information—consensus, consistency, and distinctiveness—to make these judgments.Consensus: Comparing...

Attribution Theory

Attribution Theory

Behavior is a product of both the situation (e.g., cultural influences, social roles, and the presence of bystanders) and of the person (e.g., personality characteristics). Subfields of psychology tend to focus on one influence or behavior over others. Situationism is the view that our behavior and actions are determined by our immediate environment and surroundings. In contrast, dispositionism holds that our behavior is determined by internal factors (Heider, 1958). An internal factor is an...

Attribution

Attribution

In social interactions, individuals frequently seek to understand the motivations and causes behind others' behaviors. This fundamental aspect of social perception, known as attribution, plays a crucial role in shaping interpersonal relationships and guiding future actions. Attribution refers to the cognitive process through which people infer the reasons behind others' behaviors, allowing them to assess character traits, intentions, and situational influences.Attribution Theory and Its...

Causes of Social Behavior I: Actions and Characteristics of Individuals

Causes of Social Behavior I: Actions and Characteristics of Individuals

The actions and characteristics of others heavily influence the causes of social behaviors. Emotional expressions serve as powerful social signals, shaping behaviors and interactions in significant ways. Whether through direct observation or subconscious processing, individuals constantly adjust their responses based on the emotions and attributes of those around them.Emotional Cues and Social ResponsesFacial expressions, tone of voice, and body language provide crucial emotional cues that...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Circular citizenship behaviors: How individuals can promote systemic change toward a circular economy.

iScience·2025

Same author

From believing in climate change to adapting to climate change: The role of risk perception and efficacy beliefs.

Risk analysis : an official publication of the Society for Risk Analysis·2023

Same author

The impact of COVID-19 related regulations and restrictions on mobility and potential for sustained climate mitigation across the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK: a data-based commentary.

UCL open. Environment·2023

Same author

When others control risks: Others-focused coping with risks from energy projects.

Risk analysis : an official publication of the Society for Risk Analysis·2023

Same author

To select effective interventions for pro-environmental behaviour change, we need to consider determinants of behaviour.

Nature human behaviour·2022

Same author

Psychology of Climate Change.

Annual review of psychology·2022

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Task Interruption and Resumption Paradigm for Testing the Activation and Pursuit of an Abstract Thinking Goal

Task Interruption and Resumption Paradigm for Testing the Activation and Pursuit of an Abstract Thinking Goal

Published on: April 18, 2017

Explaining prosocial intentions: testing causal relationships in the norm activation model.

Linda Steg¹, Judith de Groot

¹Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands. e.m.steg@rug.nl

The British Journal of Social Psychology

|December 22, 2009

Summary

Understanding prosocial intentions is key. This study shows that awareness of consequences, responsibility, and perceived control influence personal norms, ultimately driving prosocial behavior in social and environmental contexts.

More Related Videos

How Virtual Celebrity Characteristics Drive Purchase Intention: Testing the Stimulus-Organism-Response Framework with Structural Equation Modeling

How Virtual Celebrity Characteristics Drive Purchase Intention: Testing the Stimulus-Organism-Response Framework with Structural Equation Modeling

Published on: March 3, 2026

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses

Published on: September 28, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Task Interruption and Resumption Paradigm for Testing the Activation and Pursuit of an Abstract Thinking Goal

Task Interruption and Resumption Paradigm for Testing the Activation and Pursuit of an Abstract Thinking Goal

Published on: April 18, 2017

How Virtual Celebrity Characteristics Drive Purchase Intention: Testing the Stimulus-Organism-Response Framework with Structural Equation Modeling

How Virtual Celebrity Characteristics Drive Purchase Intention: Testing the Stimulus-Organism-Response Framework with Structural Equation Modeling

Published on: March 3, 2026

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses

Published on: September 28, 2018

Area of Science:

Social Psychology
Environmental Psychology
Behavioral Science

Background:

Prosocial intentions are crucial for societal well-being.
The norm activation model (NAM) provides a framework for understanding prosocial behavior.
Previous research has identified several factors influencing prosocial actions, but their causal relationships require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the causal relationships between key variables of the norm activation model (NAM).
To examine how personal norms (PN), awareness of adverse consequences, ascription of responsibility, and perceived control influence prosocial intentions.
To test the applicability of the NAM in both social and environmental domains.

Main Methods:

A series of experimental studies were conducted.
Participants' awareness of consequences, sense of responsibility, and perceived control were manipulated or measured.
Personal norms and various prosocial intentions were assessed.

Main Results:

Problem awareness, ascription of responsibility, and outcome efficacy were found to be significant predictors of personal norms (PN).
These NAM variables causally influenced the development of prosocial intentions.
The findings were consistent across both social and environmental contexts.

Conclusions:

The norm activation model (NAM) effectively explains the development of personal norms (PN) and prosocial intentions.
Awareness of consequences, responsibility, and efficacy are critical drivers of prosocial behavior.
Interventions aimed at fostering prosociality should consider enhancing these psychological factors.