Effectiveness of prosocial behavior interventions : a meta-analysis

Abstract

Abstract: Following the current prevailing view in psychology, the intervention programs focused primarily on reducing risk factors associated with internalizing and externalizing problems without paying much attention to the promotion or stimulation of constructive behaviors. Consequently, there are several intervention programs of known effectiveness designed to discourage disruptive behaviors such as aggressive behavior in children and teenagers, which then study their secondary effect on positive behavior, for example, prosociality [1]. However, with the emergence of positive psychology, the development of programs began to directly promote prosocial attitudes or behaviors in children as well as adolescents. With this change in approach in the manner of designing and addressing intervention, the need arises to analyze the efficacy of these intervention programs whose main purpose is to promote prosocial behaviors.Following the current prevailing view in psychology, the intervention programs focused primarily on reducing risk factors associated with internalizing and externalizing problems without paying much attention to the promotion or stimulation of constructive behaviors. Consequently, there are several intervention programs of known effectiveness designed to discourage disruptive behaviors such as aggressive behavior in children and teenagers, which then study their secondary effect on positive behavior, for example, prosociality [1]. However, with the emergence of positive psychology, the development of programs began to directly promote prosocial attitudes or behaviors in children as well as adolescents. With this change in approach in the manner of designing and addressing intervention, the need arises to analyze the efficacy of these intervention programs whose main purpose is to promote prosocial behaviors.