willingness to help others essay

Skip to primary navigation
Skip to main content
Skip to primary sidebar

Student Essays

Essays-Paragraphs-Speeches

11 Best Written Essays on Helping Others in Life-Need & Importance

1. Essay on Helping Others in Life |Need, and Importance of Helping others in Life

Helping others in the times of need is the basic instinct of human nature. It is the feeling of happiness and satisfaction that comes with being able to help someone in need that drives us towards doing good deeds. It is not only restricted to lending a helping hand during difficult times but also extends to small, everyday gestures that make a big difference in the lives of others.

>>>> Read Also : ” Essay on My Idea of Happy Life “

There are many benefits of helping others in life. The most obvious one is that it makes us feel good about ourselves. When we help someone in need, our brain releases serotonin, which is a hormone that makes us feel happy and satisfied. It also gives us a sense of purpose and meaning in life. Helping others allows us to connect with people on a deeper level and form meaningful relationships. It also gives us a sense of belonging and strengthens our bond with the community.

Apart from the personal satisfaction that comes with helping others, there are also many practical benefits. Helping others can boost our career prospects and open up new networking opportunities. It can also lead to positive changes in our society. When we help others, we set an example for others to follow and inspire them to do good deeds as well.

>>>> Read Also : ” Short Paragraph On Friendship & Its Importance “

Therefore, helping others is not only beneficial for the person in need but also for the helper. It makes us feel good about ourselves and gives us a sense of purpose and meaning in life. It also has many practical benefits that can boost our career prospects and lead to positive changes in our society. So, next time you come across someone who needs help, don’t hesitate to lend a helping hand. It will make a big difference in their life and yours too.

2. Essay on helping others is Important:

Helping others is a fundamental aspect of human nature. We are all connected in this world, and our actions have the potential to impact those around us. Whether we realize it or not, helping others can bring immense satisfaction and fulfillment into our lives.

The act of helping others goes beyond just lending a hand or offering material assistance. It’s about showing compassion, empathy, and understanding towards others. It’s about being there for someone when they need it the most, without expecting anything in return. Helping others is not just a selfless act; it can also be a source of personal growth and development.

One of the main reasons why helping others is important is because it promotes a sense of community and belonging. When we help others, we create a sense of unity and togetherness, which is crucial for building strong relationships and fostering a supportive environment. It can also help break down barriers and promote understanding between different individuals or groups.

Furthermore, helping others can have a ripple effect in the community. When one person helps another, it often inspires others to do the same. This creates a domino effect of kindness and can lead to significant positive changes in society.

Helping others is also crucial for our own personal well-being. Studies have shown that acts of kindness can boost our mood, reduce stress and anxiety, and even improve our physical health. When we help others, we release feel-good hormones like serotonin and oxytocin, which can contribute to overall happiness and well-being.

Moreover, helping others can provide a sense of purpose and meaning in life. In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught up in our own lives and lose sight of the bigger picture. By helping others, we are reminded that there is more to life than just ourselves and our own struggles.

It’s also important to note that helping others does not always have to be a grand gesture. Simple acts of kindness and compassion, such as listening to someone who is going through a difficult time or offering words of encouragement, can make a significant impact on someone’s life.

In conclusion, helping others is crucial for our own personal growth and well-being, as well as for creating a more compassionate and supportive society. It may seem like a small act, but the impact it can have on someone’s life is immeasurable. So let’s all strive to make helping others a priority in our lives and spread kindness wherever we go.

3. Short Essay on Helping Others:

Helping others is a selfless act that brings about joy, contentment and fulfillment in one’s life. It is an innate human characteristic to extend our hands towards those who are in need and offer whatever assistance we can provide. Whether it be helping a friend with their studies, aiding a stranger on the street or volunteering at a local charity organization, lending a helping hand not only benefits the receiver but also brings about a sense of satisfaction and purpose to the giver.

In today’s fast-paced world, where individualism and self-centeredness are on the rise, acts of kindness and generosity towards others have become scarce. However, it is important for individuals, especially students, to recognize the importance of helping others and make it a part of their daily lives.

By helping others, we not only make a positive impact on their lives but also contribute towards building a better society. Small acts of kindness, such as volunteering at a homeless shelter or donating clothes to those in need, can go a long way in making a difference in someone’s life.

Additionally, by actively participating in community service and helping those less fortunate, students can develop a sense of empathy and compassion towards others, which are essential qualities for building strong relationships and fostering a more inclusive society.

Moreover, helping others can also have positive effects on one’s mental health. Research has shown that individuals who engage in acts of kindness and generosity tend to experience lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. This is because helping others releases feel-good hormones such as oxytocin, dopamine and serotonin, which can help reduce stress and improve overall well-being.

Furthermore, lending a helping hand can also serve as a learning experience for students. By actively engaging in community service or volunteering at organizations that work towards social causes, students can gain valuable skills such as teamwork, leadership, and communication

4. Short Essay on Motivation for helping others:

Motivation is a powerful force that can drive individuals to act in ways that benefit not only themselves, but also those around them. One of the most selfless and altruistic forms of motivation is the desire to help others.

Helping others can take many forms, from volunteering at a local charity or donating money to a worthy cause, to simply lending a helping hand to a friend or stranger in need. But why do some people have such a strong motivation to help others, while others seem more focused on their own interests?

Research has shown that there are various factors that can contribute to an individual’s motivation for helping others. These may include personal experiences, values and beliefs, cultural influences, and even genetics.

For some people, the desire to help others may stem from a personal experience of receiving help themselves. This can lead to a sense of gratitude and a desire to pay it forward by helping others in need.

Others may be driven by their values and beliefs, such as the belief in equal rights and opportunities for all individuals. These individuals may see helping others as not only a moral obligation, but also as a way to create a more just and equitable society.

Cultural influences can also play a role in an individual’s motivation for helping others. In some cultures, the concept of community and collective well-being is highly valued, which can lead to a strong desire to help others in need.

Lastly, research has also suggested that genetics may play a role in an individual’s level of empathy and compassion, which can in turn influence their motivation to help others.

In conclusion, the reasons for an individual’s motivation to help others are complex and multifaceted. But regardless of the underlying factors, one thing is clear: helping others brings about a sense of fulfillment and purpose that cannot be achieved through self-interest alone.

5. College essay on helping others:

As a college student, it is easy to get caught up in our own personal goals and obligations. With the pressure of maintaining good grades, participating in extracurricular activities, and building a strong resume for future job prospects, helping others may not always be at the top of our list. However, being selfless and giving back to those in need can have numerous benefits for college students.

First and foremost, helping others is a great way to gain perspective and appreciate the things we have in our own lives. Many of us are fortunate enough to have access to higher education, a privilege that not everyone in the world has. By volunteering our time and efforts to help those less fortunate, we can learn to be grateful for what we have and gain a deeper understanding of the struggles and challenges faced by others.

In addition, helping others can also provide valuable learning opportunities. Through volunteering or participating in community service projects, college students can develop important skills such as leadership, communication, and problem-solving. These skills are not only beneficial for personal growth but are also highly valued by potential employers. Volunteering can also expose students to diverse cultures and perspectives, promoting a more well-rounded and empathetic outlook on life.

Moreover, by helping others, we can make a positive impact in our communities and contribute to the greater good. Whether it is through organizing a fundraiser for a local charity or tutoring students in need, our actions can have a meaningful impact on the lives of those around us. By being active members of our communities, we can create a ripple effect of kindness and inspire others to do the same.

Lastly, helping others can also have a positive impact on our mental health. Studies have shown that acts of kindness and generosity can increase happiness, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve overall well-being

6. Essay on Kindness to others:

As human beings, we have the ability to choose how we treat others. One of the most powerful ways we can impact those around us is by displaying kindness. It may seem like a small gesture, but showing kindness to others can have a ripple effect that extends far beyond what we could ever imagine.

Kindness is defined as the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. When we show kindness to others, we are displaying empathy and compassion towards them. It can be as simple as offering a smile, lending a helping hand, or listening without judgment.

The power of kindness lies in its ability to bring people together. In a world that is often divided by differences, acts of kindness can bridge the gap and create connections. It allows us to see beyond our own perspective and understand the struggles of others. It reminds us that we are all human and deserve love and respect.

Not only does kindness benefit those who receive it, but also those who give it. Studies have shown that acts of kindness can boost our mood, increase happiness, and reduce stress. It can even lead to a healthier heart and improved relationships.

In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught up in our own lives and forget about those around us. But kindness doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. It can be as simple as holding the door open for someone, saying “thank you,” or offering a compliment. These small acts of kindness may seem insignificant, but they can make a huge difference in someone’s day.

Furthermore, kindness is not limited to only those we know. It can also be extended to strangers. In fact, random acts of kindness towards strangers can have an even greater impact as it shows that there are still good and caring people in the world.

7. Inspirational Story on helping others:

Once upon a time, in a small village surrounded by lush green fields and blooming flowers, there lived a young boy named Rohan. He was known for his kind heart and willingness to help others without expecting anything in return.

Rohan grew up with his parents who were farmers. They taught him the importance of hard work and helping those in need. Every day, Rohan would help his parents in the fields, and after finishing his chores, he would spend time with the villagers.

The villagers adored Rohan for his kind nature and willingness to lend a helping hand. They often shared stories of how he had helped them during difficult times. But little did they know that Rohan’s kindness was not limited to just humans.

One day, a severe storm hit the village and destroyed most of the crops. The villagers were worried about how they would survive without food. Rohan’s parents were also affected by the storm, and they had no other option but to leave their village in search of better opportunities.

Seeing his family and villagers in distress, Rohan knew he had to do something. He remembered how his parents had taught him to help others in need, and he decided to put that lesson into practice.

Rohan went from house to house, asking the villagers if they needed any help. He helped them fix their homes, gather whatever food was left after the storm, and even offered his own food supplies to those who needed it desperately.

However, Rohan’s helping nature did not end there. He ventured into the forest to find wild fruits and berries, which he distributed among the villagers. Some even called him a hero for his selfless acts.

But Rohan remained humble and continued to help without seeking recognition or praise. His kindness was contagious, and soon other villagers joined in to help each other during difficult times.

Slowly but steadily, the village was back on its feet, and the crops were growing again. Everyone in the village had learned an important lesson from Rohan – that helping others not only benefits them but also brings joy and satisfaction to oneself.

Years passed, and Rohan grew up to be a kind-hearted man who continued to help those in need. The villagers never forgot his acts of kindness, and they passed on his lessons to their children and grandchildren.

Rohan’s selfless actions had a lasting impact on the village, and it became known as the village of kind-hearted people who always helped each other. And Rohan’s name was remembered for generations to come as a symbol of kindness and compassion.

From this story, we can learn that helping others is not just about lending a hand during difficult times, but it is also about spreading kindness and making the world a better place. As they say, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” So let us all follow Rohan’s example and make helping others a way of life

8. Essay on helping hand:

In our fast-paced and competitive world, the concept of a “helping hand” has become more important than ever before. In simple terms, a helping hand refers to an act of assisting or supporting someone in need. This could be in the form of physical, emotional, or financial support.

One might argue that the idea of extending a helping hand is not new and has been a part of our society for centuries. However, the changing dynamics of our global community have made it even more crucial for individuals to lend a helping hand to those around them.

In today’s world, where people are constantly chasing success and material possessions, there is a growing sense of isolation and loneliness among individuals. This is where the concept of a helping hand comes into play. By reaching out and supporting those in need, we not only make a positive impact on their lives but also create a sense of community and belonging.

Moreover, extending a helping hand is not only beneficial for the receiver, but it also has several benefits for the giver as well. It allows us to step outside of our own problems and focus on someone else’s needs. This can bring a sense of purpose and fulfillment in our lives. Additionally, helping others can also boost our self-esteem and confidence, knowing that we have made a positive difference in someone’s life.

Furthermore, a helping hand can also have a ripple effect. By assisting one individual, we may inspire them to pay it forward and help others in need. This creates a chain reaction of kindness and compassion, ultimately leading to a more caring and supportive society.

In today’s interconnected world, where news of tragedies and disasters spread rapidly, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless. However, by extending a helping hand to those affected, we can make a tangible difference and contribute towards rebuilding communities and lives.

In conclusion, the concept of a helping hand is more relevant now than ever before. It not only benefits individuals in need but also has positive effects on our own well-being and society as a whole. So let us all strive to be someone’s helping hand and create a world where kindness and compassion are the norm rather than the exception. As the saying goes, “A helping hand is no farther than at the end of your sleeve.” So let us all extend our sleeves and lend a helping hand whenever possible. And remember, every act of kindness matters.

9. Short Essay on how helping others benefit you:

Helping others is a fundamental human trait that has been ingrained in our society for centuries. It is an act of kindness that not only benefits the recipient, but also brings immense joy and satisfaction to the person who is offering help. In this short essay, we will explore how helping others can have a positive impact on your life.

Firstly, helping others allows us to develop empathy and compassion. When we lend a helping hand to someone in need, we put ourselves in their shoes and try to understand their struggles. This helps us build stronger connections with others and become more understanding individuals. Moreover, by seeing the impact of our actions on others, we learn to appreciate what we have and not take things for granted.

Secondly, helping others can boost our self-esteem and confidence. When we use our skills and knowledge to assist someone, it gives us a sense of purpose and accomplishment. This, in turn, helps us feel more confident about ourselves and our abilities. It also reminds us that we are capable of making a positive impact on others’ lives.

Thirdly, helping others can improve our mental health. It is a well-known fact that acts of kindness can release feel-good hormones in our brain, such as oxytocin and endorphins. These hormones are responsible for making us feel happy and content. By helping others, we can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression levels in ourselves and others around us.

In addition to the above benefits, helping others also allows us to expand our social circle and make meaningful connections. When we volunteer or engage in acts of kindness, we meet like-minded individuals who share the same values as us. This can lead to long-lasting friendships and a sense of belonging.

Lastly, helping others is a powerful way to contribute to society and make a positive impact on the world. By giving back to our communities, we can create a ripple effect of kindness and inspire others to do the same. This can lead to a more empathetic and compassionate society, creating a better world for future generations.

10. Short Essay on Satisfaction Comes from Helping Others:

We’ve all heard the saying, “It’s better to give than receive.” And while it may sound cliché, there is truth to this statement. There is a certain sense of satisfaction that comes from helping others. Whether it be through volunteering, lending a helping hand, or simply being there for someone in need, the act of helping others brings a sense of fulfillment that cannot be replicated by any material possessions.

So why is it that helping others brings us satisfaction? One of the main reasons is that it gives us a sense of purpose. In today’s fast-paced world, we often get caught up in our own lives and forget about the needs of those around us. By taking the time to help someone else, we are reminded that there is more to life than just our own personal pursuits. We are able to make a positive impact on someone else’s life and in turn, feel good about ourselves.

Moreover, helping others allows us to step outside of our comfort zones and gain new perspectives. It’s easy to get stuck in our own routines and thought patterns, but when we help someone else, we are exposed to different ways of thinking and living. This can broaden our understanding of the world and also help us appreciate what we have.

Another aspect of helping others that brings satisfaction is the connections we make with people. When we lend a helping hand or volunteer, we are often working alongside like-minded individuals who share similar values and goals. These shared experiences can lead to meaningful relationships and a sense of belonging.

Furthermore, the act of helping others can also boost our own self-esteem and confidence. By making a positive impact on someone else’s life, we are reminded that we have something valuable to offer. This can give us a sense of purpose and worth that may have been lacking before.

In conclusion, while it may seem counterintuitive, true satisfaction does not come from acquiring material possessions or achieving personal success. It comes from the act of helping others and making a positive impact in their lives. So, let us strive to be kind, empathetic, and selfless individuals who find joy in giving rather than receiving. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

11. Short Essay on My Greatest Passion is Helping others:

My greatest passion in life is helping others. For as long as I can remember, I have always had a strong desire to make a positive impact on the world around me. Growing up, my parents instilled in me the value of kindness and compassion towards others, and this has stayed with me throughout my life.

I believe that there is no greater joy than being able to bring a smile to someone’s face or make their day a little bit brighter. Whether it is through small acts of kindness, volunteering my time, or using my skills and knowledge to help those in need, I am always looking for ways to lend a helping hand.

One of the reasons why helping others is my greatest passion is because it allows me to connect with people from all walks of life. I have had the opportunity to work with individuals from different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences, and each interaction has taught me something valuable. By helping others, I am also able to learn and grow as a person.

Furthermore, helping others is not just about making a difference in someone else’s life; it also brings immense fulfillment and happiness in my own life. Knowing that I have made a positive impact, no matter how small, fills me with a sense of purpose and motivates me to continue helping others.

In today’s world, where there is so much negativity and division, I believe that acts of kindness and compassion towards others are more important than ever. My greatest passion for helping others will always be a driving force in my life, and I hope to inspire others to do the same. After all, as Mahatma Gandhi said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

Q: How do you write an essay about helping others?

A: To write an essay about helping others, start with an introduction that highlights the significance of the topic, provide examples and personal experiences to support your points, discuss the benefits of helping others, and conclude with a strong summary.

Q: Why is it important to help others essay?

A: An essay on why it’s important to help others emphasizes the value of compassion, empathy, and the positive impact that helping others can have on individuals, communities, and society as a whole.

Q: What is the importance of helping others?

A: The importance of helping others lies in fostering empathy, building stronger communities, and creating a more compassionate and interconnected world.

Q: Why am I passionate about helping others?

A: Your passion for helping others may be driven by the sense of fulfillment, the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives, a desire to contribute to positive change, and personal values or experiences that underscore the importance of altruism and empathy.

Reader Interactions

Essay on Helping Others in Life

Helping others is a fundamental aspect of human life and is closely tied to personal growth and fulfillment. By offering aid and support to those in need, individuals can improve their own lives and those of others, leading to a more harmonious and prosperous world. This essay will explore the various benefits of helping others, including the impact on personal development, the benefits to mental health, and the impact on society as a whole.

I. Personal Development

A. Increased Empathy and Understanding

One of the key benefits of helping others is the development of empathy and understanding. By reaching out to others and offering support, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of the experiences and challenges faced by those in need. This can lead to an increased sense of compassion and empathy, helping to build stronger relationships and foster greater understanding between people.

B. Improved Sense of Purpose and Fulfillment

Helping others can also have a positive impact on personal development by providing a sense of purpose and fulfillment. By making a positive difference in the lives of others, individuals can find greater meaning and satisfaction in their own lives, helping them to feel more fulfilled and content.

C. Enhanced Self-Esteem and Confidence

Another key benefit of helping others is the positive impact on self-esteem and confidence. By taking action to help others, individuals can feel more empowered and confident in their own abilities, leading to greater self-esteem and a stronger sense of personal identity.

II. Benefits to Mental Health

A. Reduced Stress and Anxiety

Helping others can also have a positive impact on mental health, as it has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety. By focusing on the needs of others, individuals can shift their attention away from their own worries and concerns, leading to a more relaxed and content state of mind.

B. Improved Mood and Happiness

In addition to reducing stress and anxiety, helping others can also lead to an improvement in mood and happiness. By providing support to others and making a positive impact on their lives, individuals can experience a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, leading to greater happiness and well-being.

C. Increased Social Connections

Finally, helping others can also have a positive impact on mental health by fostering greater social connections. By reaching out to others and offering support, individuals can form stronger relationships and build a sense of community, leading to increased feelings of belonging and connectedness.

III. Impact on Society

A. Strengthening of Communities

One of the key ways in which helping others can impact society is by strengthening communities. By working together to help those in need, individuals can build stronger relationships and foster a sense of solidarity, leading to more resilient and harmonious communities.

B. Promotion of Social Justice

Another way in which helping others can impact society is by promoting social justice. By offering support to those who are marginalized or disadvantaged, individuals can help to address social inequalities and work towards a more fair and just society.

C. Encouragement of Generosity and Altruism

Finally, by helping others and setting a positive example, individuals can encourage others to be more generous and altruistic, helping to foster a culture of giving and compassion in society as a whole.

what are the ways of helping others

There are numerous ways to help others and make a positive impact in their lives. Here are some common ways you can lend a helping hand:

Volunteering: Offer your time and skills to organizations, charities, or community projects. Volunteer at local schools, hospitals, shelters, or environmental initiatives. Your efforts can contribute to a variety of causes and make a difference in the lives of those in need.
Donating: Consider donating money, goods, or resources to charitable organizations. Financial contributions can support causes such as education, healthcare, poverty alleviation, disaster relief, and more. Donating goods like clothing, food, or household items can also benefit individuals and communities.
Mentoring: Share your knowledge and experiences with others by becoming a mentor. Offer guidance and support to individuals who can benefit from your expertise, whether it’s in academics, career development, personal growth, or other areas.
Fundraising: Organize or participate in fundraising events to support specific causes or organizations. This can involve activities such as charity runs, bake sales, auctions, or crowdfunding campaigns. By raising funds, you help create resources for initiatives that assist others.
Advocacy: Stand up for causes you believe in and raise awareness about social issues. Use your voice to advocate for marginalized communities, human rights, environmental sustainability, or any other cause that you feel passionate about. Write to policymakers, join advocacy groups, or engage in peaceful protests to drive change.
Offering Support: Be there for people in your life who may be going through challenging times. Offer emotional support, lend a listening ear, or provide practical assistance when needed. Simple acts of kindness, such as helping a neighbor with their groceries or offering to babysit for a friend, can go a long way.
Sharing Skills: Teach others a skill or trade that you possess. This could involve tutoring students, conducting workshops or classes, or offering professional services pro bono. By sharing your expertise, you empower others and enable them to improve their lives.
Random Acts of Kindness: Engage in small acts of kindness on a daily basis. These can include complimenting someone, holding the door for others, offering to help a stranger, or participating in community clean-up efforts. Random acts of kindness create a positive ripple effect and contribute to a more compassionate society.

Remember, helping others doesn’t always have to involve grand gestures. Even small acts of kindness and support can make a significant impact on individuals and communities.

In conclusion, helping others is a vital aspect of human life, offering numerous benefits to personal development, mental health, and society as a whole. By reaching out to those in need and offering support, individuals can experience greater fulfillment and satisfaction, while also making a positive impact on the world around them. Whether through volunteer work, charitable giving, or simply lending

a helping hand to a friend or neighbor, there are countless opportunities to help others and make a difference in the world. Through these acts of kindness and generosity, we can strengthen our communities, promote social justice, and encourage a culture of compassion and altruism.

By taking the time to help others, individuals can also find personal growth and fulfillment, as they develop empathy, understanding, and a sense of purpose. Whether through big or small acts of kindness, helping others has the power to transform lives and improve the world we live in.

In short, helping others is not just a noble pursuit, but a vital part of our shared human experience. It is through our actions and our willingness to reach out and support others that we can create a more just, peaceful, and fulfilling world for all.

The Significance of Helping Others: A Comprehensive Exploration

As a firm believer in the power of empathy and compassion, I am thrilled to delve into the topic of why helping others is profoundly important. Throughout history, individuals and communities have recognized the intrinsic value of extending a helping hand to those in need. In this essay, I aim to shed light on the various aspects of helping others, including its psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions. By taking a holistic approach, we can gain a deeper understanding of the impact that acts of kindness have on both the giver and the receiver.

The Psychological Benefits of Helping Others:

It is undeniable that engaging in acts of altruism and kindness holds remarkable psychological advantages. Firstly, helping others boosts our own sense of self-worth and purpose. By making a positive difference in someone’s life, we experience a profound sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. Furthermore, studies have shown that acts of kindness stimulate the release of endorphins, often referred to as the “feel-good” hormones. These endorphins contribute to a state of happiness and overall well-being.

Moreover, helping others can combat feelings of loneliness and isolation. By connecting with individuals in need and fostering meaningful relationships, we create a support system that nurtures our own emotional health. Additionally, practicing empathy and compassion allows us to develop stronger emotional intelligence, enhancing our ability to understand and relate to others.

The Social Impact of Helping Others:

Beyond the personal benefits, helping others has far-reaching social implications. When we extend a helping hand, we contribute to the creation of a more compassionate society. Acts of kindness ripple through communities, inspiring others to follow suit. The collective impact of these actions can bring about positive social change and foster a sense of unity among diverse groups.

Furthermore, helping others promotes the establishment of strong social networks. By engaging in philanthropy or volunteer work, we connect with like-minded individuals who share our values and passions. These networks not only offer support but also open doors to new opportunities and collaborations, amplifying the impact we can make together.

The Spiritual Dimensions of Helping Others:

For many, helping others transcends the realm of psychology and sociology; it becomes a deeply spiritual practice. By extending kindness, we align ourselves with core human values such as compassion, love, and selflessness. These acts of service can foster a profound sense of connection with something greater than ourselves.

Additionally, helping others allows us to cultivate a sense of gratitude for our own blessings. When we witness the challenges faced by others, we gain perspective and appreciation for the abundance in our own lives. This awareness serves as a reminder to be grateful for what we have and to approach life with humility and generosity.

Overcoming Challenges in Helping Others:

While the importance of helping others is clear, it is essential to acknowledge the challenges and complexities associated with this endeavor. One common challenge is finding the balance between offering assistance and respecting the autonomy and dignity of those in need. It is crucial to empower individuals rather than perpetuating a sense of dependency.

Furthermore, navigating cultural and societal barriers requires sensitivity and cultural competence. Understanding the unique needs and perspectives of diverse communities is vital to providing effective support. By actively seeking to educate ourselves and engage in meaningful dialogue, we can bridge gaps and ensure our assistance is truly impactful.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, helping others is of paramount importance due to its profound psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions. By engaging in acts of kindness, we not only improve the lives of those we assist but also experience personal growth and fulfillment. Additionally, our efforts contribute to the creation of a more compassionate and inclusive society. It is through our shared commitment to helping others that we can bring about positive change and foster a world built on empathy and understanding.

My Passion in Life: A Journey of Helping Others

From a young age, I have been drawn to the profound satisfaction and joy that comes from helping others. It is a passion that permeates every aspect of my life and serves as a guiding force for my academic pursuits. In this comprehensive essay, I will delve into the depths of this topic, showcasing my in-depth knowledge while maintaining a friendly and relatable tone. By exploring the various aspects of helping others, I aim to shed light on the significance of this altruistic pursuit and its impact on both individuals and society as a whole.

Understanding the Essence of Helping Others: Helping others is an innate human instinct that goes beyond simple acts of kindness. It encompasses empathy, compassion, and a genuine desire to improve the lives of those around us. By delving into the psychological underpinnings of helping behavior, I have come to realize the profound impact it has on fostering stronger interpersonal connections and building a more cohesive society.
The Importance of Selflessness: Helping others often requires selflessness, as it involves prioritizing the needs and well-being of others over our own. By examining the concepts of selflessness and sacrifice, I aim to highlight the transformative power that lies within acts of service. Through personal anecdotes and examples, I will showcase the positive ripple effect that even the smallest acts of kindness can have on individuals and communities.
Empowering Through Education and Mentorship: Education serves as a powerful tool in transforming lives and enabling individuals to reach their full potential. By focusing on the role of education and mentorship in helping others, I will explore how these avenues can pave the way for personal growth and societal progress. Drawing upon research and personal experiences, I will illustrate the transformative power of knowledge and the profound impact that mentors can have on shaping the lives of others.
Building Stronger Communities: Helping others extends beyond individual acts of kindness; it encompasses community-building and fostering an inclusive environment. By examining the dynamics of community engagement, I will explore the ways in which collective efforts can bring about positive change and address societal challenges. From volunteering to grassroots initiatives, I will delve into the strategies and approaches that contribute to creating thriving communities.
Overcoming Challenges and Nurturing Resilience: Helping others is not without its obstacles. It requires resilience and an unwavering commitment to making a difference, even in the face of adversity. By sharing personal stories of overcoming challenges and setbacks, I will provide insights into the importance of perseverance and resilience in the pursuit of helping others. This section will serve as a source of inspiration for readers, encouraging them to navigate the inevitable obstacles they may encounter on their own journeys.

My passion for helping others has shaped my identity and academic pursuits. Throughout this comprehensive essay, I have explored the various facets of this passion, drawing upon personal experiences, research, and a deep understanding of the topic. From understanding the essence of helping others to nurturing resilience, I have showcased the transformative power of acts of kindness and their far-reaching impact on individuals and communities. By embracing our innate desire to help others, we can contribute to a more compassionate and inclusive world. Let us embark on this journey together, united in our shared goal of making a positive difference in the lives of others.

speech on helping others

Ladies and gentlemen,

Today, I want to talk about a fundamental aspect of our humanity – helping others. The act of extending a helping hand to those in need is not only a noble endeavor but also a fundamental part of what it means to be human. It’s a simple yet profound gesture that can make a world of difference in the lives of those we touch.

Helping others is not confined to grand gestures or extraordinary acts of charity. It can be as simple as lending a listening ear to a friend in distress or offering a warm smile to a stranger. It’s about showing empathy, compassion, and kindness in our everyday interactions.

One of the most remarkable things about helping others is that it’s a win-win situation. When we help others, we not only make a positive impact on their lives, but we also enrich our own lives in the process. Here’s how:

Fosters Connection: Helping others creates bonds and strengthens relationships. It builds trust and deepens connections with friends, family, and even strangers. It reminds us that we are all part of a larger human family.
Boosts Happiness: Numerous studies have shown that acts of kindness trigger the release of endorphins, the “feel-good” hormones, in our brains. So, helping others actually makes us happier and more content.
Fosters Personal Growth: Helping others challenges us to step out of our comfort zones, develop new skills, and broaden our perspectives. It can be a powerful tool for personal growth and self-discovery.
Creates a Positive Ripple Effect: When we help someone, they are more likely to pay it forward and help others in turn. This creates a positive ripple effect that can spread far and wide, making the world a better place.
Enhances Our Sense of Purpose: Knowing that our actions can have a positive impact on others gives us a sense of purpose and meaning in life. It reminds us that we have the power to make a difference.

In a world that often seems divided and troubled, helping others serves as a beacon of hope. It transcends barriers of race, religion, and nationality. It reminds us of our shared humanity and the potential for goodness that resides in each of us.

But let’s not forget that helping others is not just about the grand gestures or the occasional act of charity. It’s about cultivating a mindset of kindness and empathy in our daily lives. It’s about being there for our friends, family, and community when they need us most. It’s about recognizing that even the smallest acts of kindness can have a profound impact.

So, as we go about our lives, let’s remember the power we hold within us to make the world a better place through acts of kindness and helping others. Let’s choose empathy over apathy, compassion over indifference, and love over hate. In doing so, we not only enrich the lives of those we help but also contribute to a more compassionate and connected world for all.

Recent Posts

Essay on Criminological Theories in ‘8 Mile’ - September 21, 2023
Essay on Employment Practices in South Africa: Sham Hiring for Compliance - September 21, 2023
Essay on The Outsiders: Analysis of Three Deaths and Their Impact - September 21, 2023

Essay About Helping Others. Always Do Good

Our company is like the other academic paper writing services can help you with writing tasks. Ordering the paper, you can safe your time and use it for personal purposes. We work honestly and conscientiously and we guarantee the high quality of the paper. Visit the website if you want to learn more about us . The services are also described there. Managers are always ready to answer your questions . For many years students are satisfied with the work of this online essay grammar editor .

Also in this section:

Is It Difficult To Write My Research Paper?
Essay Proofread Online: Check Your Grammar And Spelling Here
Custom Essay Writing Services: What Service to Choose
Pay For Papers
Using Online Essay Checker Services
Essay Grammar Check: Pros and Cons
Academic Writing Service
Essay Rewriter

Two Secrets

There are two simple secrets about which people always forget or don’t know them at all. The first is: when you are giving something, you will most likely get something back! People will notice your generosity and maybe the will be also generous according to you. It is like a pleasant bonus, but you don’t need to do good things just hoping to get something back. Only kindness with the true motives are describes in this secret. In the Bible we can read the next statement: practice giving and people will give to you. And the next one is: for with the measure that you are measuring out, they will measure out to you in return.

And the second secret is that helping others, you help yourself. Remember that it is much better to give than to get. It is simple law but it gives people the great satisfaction and feeling of happiness. It would be wonderful if you will find the person for the example. You can take the Jesus Christ life for the great example, or the mother Teresa or somebody who you know personally. You are wrong if you think that there are no kindness and good people in the modern world. Of course, they are, maybe in minority, but they still are. I wish you be always above all the circumstances and always do the right things.

Trifles are very important

Listening to the problems of other people without making judgments is one of the best deeds that you can do. Most people know the answers on the questions they have encountered. They just did not realize it yet. Allowing them to talk about their problems, you help them find their way and understand what they should do. Sometimes they may need support and help to start a new life. You can help them avoid the mistakes you made yourself, and also help them to start learning from the mistakes that they will inevitably do in the future. In your life, you will often see that with someone has acted unfairly. Be ready to help such people. In this cruel modern world it I really very difficult to find the justice and don’t try to find it. Just do not despair and do not let others do it. If something can save this world it will be the unselfish kindness.

And always bring the matter to the end. If you have started helping someone, as a mentor or defending the rights of others and do not stop halfway. Never, after all, you will surrender yourself and at the same time disappoint those, who wanted to help.

From the personal experience

Sometimes when I tired or just want to have a rest, sitting in front of the TV or computer, I think that soon my mom will come back from her job and she will be more tired than I am. At such moments I stand up and go to the kitchen to prepare the hot supper for my mom and something she can take for the dinner at work. I also tried to control that the flat should be clean at the evening. It seems such a trifle, but my mom will be really happy and satisfied after the difficult busy day to sit at the warm kitchen and drink a hot cup of tea. No matter how tired my mother was, she will always notice what I did for her and she will smile and say thanks my dear. And for the sake of her smile, for the sake of the expressing joy in her eyes, I am ready to do this every evening, even if my own day was not very easy. Mother’s happiness always motivates me to do something good. And I think that the same should be in everyone’s life. We always get satisfaction if we helped someone to be a little happier. Let's do good everywhere and always and this world will change for the better!

I also think that if children grow up and have the well-paid job they can support their parents financially. Is this not showing kindness? You can buy your mother a new phone, and maybe the computer of your father is rather old? Always remember that time, when your parents were young they did everything for you and maybe it is the high time to answer them in the same way?

5 reasons why to help others

We help different people for different reasons. There is some category of people who can’t live if they don’t help others. Others can help just to be thankful for something. Mostly it all depends on the person and her/his wishes ( https://livecustomwriting.com/blog/habits-that-will-be-useful-in-your-life ). Sometimes we help other people as we want to think that we are a kind person. Sometimes we need to improve our mood, to feel ourselves nobler, be sure that somebody needs us. But the interesting fact is that helping others, we can improve our health.

1) Helping others? You will live longer. Different scientists from different countries made special researches and in 2013 they came to the same conclusion: we can really live longer if we start to help other disinterestedly. According to this statistical data, we can reduce mortality by 22%. Many people ask how many we should help others. According to the researches 100 hours will be enough, but it is not the standard, you can help just 50-75 hours and it also will be useful for you. But you need remember about the main thing, your helping should be regularly and systematic.

2) Improving mood and well-being. Helping others, we improve our mood. The scientists are sure that it’s enough five little acts of kindness during the week (do it for 6 weeks) and you will notice that your well-being is much better. It is very important to know that one-off help doesn’t matter. And the positive results after helping can quickly disappear. That’s why it is important often to help and gladly and derive benefit from it. If you like to help others it seems to me that you will never suffer from depression.

3) More communication. When you help other people you need to communicate with them. Who knows, maybe you will find new friend or the twin soul. Loneliness can badly influence on your health. Those, who are surrounded with kind people, have a long and happy life.

4) You will have lower blood pressure. In 1998 were organized interesting scientist researches. As a result, older people (over 50 years old), who decided to spend about 4 hours per week helping others, had a 40% less chance of developing hypertension in the next four years. The scientists consider that the positive effect of helping can be connected with stress reduction. Volunteering can motivate you to become better and better, positively adjusts and gives support to cope with daily troubles.

5) Less pain. If you are suffering from the chronic illness, you feel the discomfort from time to time but you can avoid this feeling. Just start to help those people, who have the same disease as you have. Even in a hospital, if you’ll help others, you will feel much better, become more confidence, receive positive energy and be able to control the situation.

It is also very interesting that all the described advantages for your health are impossible if you help by the way or just give money to beggars. The main thing is your personal participation and systematic.

How can I help other people

In our helping others essay we want to give you some simple ideas. After reading them, you can start making kind acts right now. You can help your family:

vacuuming the apartment, wash dishes, clean the floor if nobody asks you to do it;
cook something for dinner;
give your parents a card with the words how you love and appreciate them;
help your brother or sister to cope with the home tasks.

You can also help others:

visit somebody in the hospital;
help your old neighbor to do something about the house;
give present to those persons, who has great difficulties now.

In this help others essay we just gave you some simple examples ( https://livecustomwriting.com/blog/avoid-doing-this-thing-to-become-confident ), and I am sure that if you stop and think a little, you will create the dozens way to help others. Set the goal to help one person this week and be ready to see the miracles. Remember, that we can also help you. The company can write essay for you but for the nominal fee, of course. In fact, we can all help each other, we can be part of a mechanism that promotes cooperation and, finally, we ourselves can create better conditions for our lives.

About Stanford GSB

The Leadership
Dean’s Updates
School News & History
Commencement
Business, Government & Society
Centers & Institutes
Center for Entrepreneurial Studies
Center for Social Innovation
Stanford Seed

About the Experience

Learning at Stanford GSB
Experiential Learning
Guest Speakers
Entrepreneurship
Social Innovation
Communication
Life at Stanford GSB
Collaborative Environment
Activities & Organizations
Student Services
Housing Options
International Students

Full-Time Degree Programs

Why Stanford MBA
Academic Experience
Financial Aid
Why Stanford MSx
Research Fellows Program
See All Programs

Non-Degree & Certificate Programs

Executive Education
Stanford Executive Program
Programs for Organizations
The Difference
Online Programs
Stanford LEAD
Stanford Innovation and Entrepreneurship Certificate
Seed Transformation Program
Aspire Program
Seed Spark Program
Faculty Profiles
Academic Areas
Awards & Honors
Conferences

Faculty Research

Publications
Working Papers
Case Studies

Research Hub

Research Labs & Initiatives
Business Library
Data, Analytics & Research Computing
Behavioral Lab

Research Labs

Cities, Housing & Society Lab
Golub Capital Social Impact Lab

Research Initiatives

Corporate Governance Research Initiative
Corporations and Society Initiative
Policy and Innovation Initiative
Rapid Decarbonization Initiative
Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative
Value Chain Innovation Initiative
Venture Capital Initiative
Career & Success
Climate & Sustainability
Corporate Governance
Culture & Society
Finance & Investing
Government & Politics
Leadership & Management
Markets & Trade
Operations & Logistics
Opportunity & Access
Organizational Behavior
Political Economy
Social Impact
Technology & AI
Opinion & Analysis
Email Newsletter

Welcome, Alumni

Communities
Digital Communities & Tools
Regional Chapters
Women’s Programs
Identity Chapters
Find Your Reunion
Career Resources
Job Search Resources
Career & Life Transitions
Programs & Services
Career Video Library
Alumni Education
Research Resources
Volunteering
Alumni News
Class Notes
Alumni Voices
Contact Alumni Relations
Upcoming Events

Admission Events & Information Sessions

MBA Program
MSx Program
PhD Program
Alumni Events
All Other Events

Francis Flynn: What Makes People Want to Help Others?

In his quarterly column, a Stanford professor of organizational behavior describes how group membership influences behavior.

November 21, 2013

Neighbors push a vehicle out of a snow-covered road, 2010 | Reuters/Hyungwon Kang

What inspires people to act selflessly, help others, and make personal sacrifices? Each quarter, this column features one piece of scholarly research that provides insight on what motivates people to engage in what psychologists call “prosocial behavior”— things like making charitable contributions, buying gifts, volunteering one’s time, and so forth. In short, it looks at the work of some of our finest researchers on what spurs people to do something on behalf of someone else.

This quarter we focus on how perceptions of “group membership” can influence whether others decide to help us in emergency situations. A 2005 British study reported in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin shows that bystanders are more likely to help strangers in distress when they recognize such strangers as belonging to a common group. However, what counts as group membership is not fixed. When people are encouraged to see greater commonalities with strangers, they will extend help to those whom they may have otherwise considered part of the “out group.”

Two studies conducted at Lancaster University in the UK played on the intense rivalry between fans of two English football teams, Manchester United and Liverpool. In the first study, Manchester United fans were recruited to fill out questionnaires about their interest in the team and the degree to which they identified as fans. They were then invited to walk across campus to see a video about football teams. Along the way, an accident was staged in which a runner slipped and fell, groaning in pain. Hidden observers watched the incident, and those taking part in the study were asked about it when they reached the projection room.

Participants, all of whom had a strong identification as Manchester fans, were more likely to ask the runner if he needed help when he was wearing a Manchester United shirt than when he was wearing a Liverpool shirt or an ordinary unbranded shirt.

In the second study, Manchester United fans were again recruited, but when they arrived they were told that they were participating in a study about football fans in general (not Manchester United fans, specifically). They were also told that the study aimed to focus on the positive aspects of fanhood as opposed to the negative incidents and stories that usually get attention. The study questionnaires asked them about their broader interest in the game and what they shared with other fans. They then were instructed to cross campus to head to the projection room, and along the way witnessed the same staged incident and conditions described in the first study.

In this case, participants were as likely to help a victim in a Manchester United shirt as they were to help someone in a Liverpool shirt. And they were more likely to help those wearing team shirts than those who were not.

Quote When people expand their notion of the 'in-group' they are more likely to reach out to those in the 'other camp.'

The results of the second study are fascinating in terms of their implications. The results indicate that when people are encouraged to see social category boundaries at a more inclusive level — all football fans, versus fans of one team — they will extend help to more individuals. Even in a country in which bitter intergroup rivalry exists between fans of one football team and another, when people expand their notion of the “in-group” they are more likely to reach out to those in the “other camp.”

One noteworthy strength of this research is that it offers an analysis of actual helping behavior rather than “beliefs about” or “intentions” to act. Evidence of dramatic shifts in such behavior across deeply entrenched antagonisms in response to simple changes in levels of categorization is striking.

Indeed, the studies bring up questions regarding how we may cue more prosocial behavior not only in emergency situations, but in all circumstances. How may we promote a greater feeling of inclusiveness among members of society at wider levels such that boundaries become meaningless, and empathetic concern leads to more consistent positive action? Clearly this research offers inspiration for new approaches to camaraderie building across groups, communities, states, and even nations.

Research selected by Francis Flynn, Paul E. Holden Professor of Organizational Behavior at Stanford Graduate School of Business.

For media inquiries, visit the Newsroom .

Explore More

How to get beyond talk of “culture change” and make it happen, conflict among hospital staff could compromise care, hardwired for hierarchy: our relationship with power, editor’s picks.

July 27, 2012 Francis Flynn: Why Do People Give Things Away to Strangers? In his quarterly column, a scholar examines the social value of no-cash exchanges on Freecycle and Craigslist.

Identity and Emergency Intervention: How Social Group Membership and Inclusiveness of Group Boundaries Shape Helping Behavior Mark Levine Amy Prosser David Evans Stephen Reicher

See the Current DEI Report
Supporting Data
Research & Insights
Share Your Thoughts
Search Fund Primer
Teaching & Curriculum
Affiliated Faculty
Faculty Advisors
Louis W. Foster Resource Center
Defining Social Innovation
Impact Compass
Global Health Innovation Insights
Faculty Affiliates
Student Awards & Certificates
Changemakers
Dean Jonathan Levin
Dean Garth Saloner
Dean Robert Joss
Dean Michael Spence
Dean Robert Jaedicke
Dean Rene McPherson
Dean Arjay Miller
Dean Ernest Arbuckle
Dean Jacob Hugh Jackson
Dean Willard Hotchkiss
Faculty in Memoriam
Stanford GSB Firsts
Certificate & Award Recipients
Dean’s Remarks
Keynote Address
Teaching Approach
Analysis and Measurement of Impact
The Corporate Entrepreneur: Startup in a Grown-Up Enterprise
Data-Driven Impact
Designing Experiments for Impact
Digital Business Transformation
The Founder’s Right Hand
Marketing for Measurable Change
Product Management
Public Policy Lab: Financial Challenges Facing US Cities
Public Policy Lab: Homelessness in California
Lab Features
Curricular Integration
View From The Top
Formation of New Ventures
Managing Growing Enterprises
Startup Garage
Explore Beyond the Classroom
Stanford Venture Studio
Summer Program
Workshops & Events
The Five Lenses of Entrepreneurship
Leadership Labs
Executive Challenge
Arbuckle Leadership Fellows Program
Selection Process
Training Schedule
Time Commitment
Learning Expectations
Post-Training Opportunities
Who Should Apply
Introductory T-Groups
Leadership for Society Program
Certificate
2023 Awardees
2022 Awardees
2021 Awardees
2020 Awardees
2019 Awardees
2018 Awardees
Social Management Immersion Fund
Stanford Impact Founder Fellowships and Prizes
Stanford Impact Leader Prizes
Social Entrepreneurship
Stanford GSB Impact Fund
Economic Development
Energy & Environment
Stanford GSB Residences
Environmental Leadership
Stanford GSB Artwork
A Closer Look
California & the Bay Area
Voices of Stanford GSB
Business & Beneficial Technology
Business & Sustainability
Business & Free Markets
Business, Government, and Society Forum
Get Involved
Second Year
Global Experiences
JD/MBA Joint Degree
MA Education/MBA Joint Degree
MD/MBA Dual Degree
MPP/MBA Joint Degree
MS Computer Science/MBA Joint Degree
MS Electrical Engineering/MBA Joint Degree
MS Environment and Resources (E-IPER)/MBA Joint Degree
Academic Calendar
Clubs & Activities
LGBTQ+ Students
Military Veterans
Minorities & People of Color
Partners & Families
Students with Disabilities
Student Support
Residential Life
Student Voices
MBA Alumni Voices
A Week in the Life
Career Support
Employment Outcomes
Cost of Attendance
Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program
Yellow Ribbon Program
BOLD Fellows Fund
Application Process
Loan Forgiveness
Contact the Financial Aid Office
Evaluation Criteria
GMAT & GRE
English Language Proficiency
Personal Information, Activities & Awards
Professional Experience
Letters of Recommendation
Optional Short Answer Questions
Application Fee
Reapplication
Deferred Enrollment
Joint & Dual Degrees
Entering Class Profile
Event Schedule
Ambassadors
New & Noteworthy
Ask a Question
See Why Stanford MSx
Is MSx Right for You?
MSx Stories
Leadership Development
Career Advancement
Career Change
How You Will Learn
Admission Events
Personal Information
Information for Recommenders
GMAT, GRE & EA
English Proficiency Tests
After You’re Admitted
Daycare, Schools & Camps
U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents
Requirements
Requirements: Behavioral
Requirements: Quantitative
Requirements: Macro
Requirements: Micro
Annual Evaluations
Field Examination
Research Activities
Research Papers
Dissertation
Oral Examination
Current Students
Education & CV
International Applicants
Statement of Purpose
Reapplicants
Application Fee Waiver
Deadline & Decisions
Job Market Candidates
Academic Placements
Stay in Touch
Faculty Mentors
Current Fellows
Standard Track
Fellowship & Benefits
Group Enrollment
Program Formats
Developing a Program
Diversity & Inclusion
Strategic Transformation
Program Experience
Contact Client Services
Campus Experience
Live Online Experience
Silicon Valley & Bay Area
Digital Credentials
Faculty Spotlights
Participant Spotlights
Eligibility
International Participants
Stanford Ignite
Frequently Asked Questions
Operations, Information & Technology
Classical Liberalism
The Eddie Lunch
Accounting Summer Camp
Videos, Code & Data
California Econometrics Conference
California Quantitative Marketing PhD Conference
California School Conference
China India Insights Conference
Homo economicus, Evolving
Political Economics (2023–24)
Scaling Geologic Storage of CO2 (2023–24)
A Resilient Pacific: Building Connections, Envisioning Solutions
Adaptation and Innovation
Changing Climate
Civil Society
Climate Impact Summit
Climate Science
Corporate Carbon Disclosures
Earth’s Seafloor
Environmental Justice
Operations and Information Technology
Organizations
Sustainability Reporting and Control
Taking the Pulse of the Planet
Urban Infrastructure
Watershed Restoration
Junior Faculty Workshop on Financial Regulation and Banking
Ken Singleton Celebration
Quantitative Marketing PhD Alumni Conference
Presentations
Theory and Inference in Accounting Research
Stanford Closer Look Series
Quick Guides
Core Concepts
Journal Articles
Glossary of Terms
Faculty & Staff
Researchers & Students
Research Approach
Charitable Giving
Financial Health
Government Services
Workers & Careers
Short Course
Adaptive & Iterative Experimentation
Incentive Design
Social Sciences & Behavioral Nudges
Bandit Experiment Application
Conferences & Events
Reading Materials
Energy Entrepreneurship
Faculty & Affiliates
SOLE Report
Responsible Supply Chains
Current Study Usage
Pre-Registration Information
Participate in a Study
Founding Donors
Location Information
Participant Profile
Network Membership
Program Impact
Collaborators
Entrepreneur Profiles
Company Spotlights
Seed Transformation Network
Responsibilities
Current Coaches
How to Apply
Meet the Consultants
Meet the Interns
Intern Profiles
Collaborate
Research Library
News & Insights
Program Contacts
Databases & Datasets
Research Guides
Consultations
Research Workshops
Career Research
Research Data Services
Course Reserves
Course Research Guides
Material Loan Periods
Fines & Other Charges
Document Delivery
Interlibrary Loan
Equipment Checkout
Print & Scan
MBA & MSx Students
PhD Students
Other Stanford Students
Faculty Assistants
Research Assistants
Stanford GSB Alumni
Telling Our Story
Staff Directory
Site Registration
Alumni Directory
Alumni Email
Privacy Settings & My Profile
Success Stories
The Story of Circles
Support Women’s Circles
Stanford Women on Boards Initiative
Alumnae Spotlights
Insights & Research
Industry & Professional
Entrepreneurial Commitment Group
Recent Alumni
Half-Century Club
Fall Reunions
Spring Reunions
MBA 25th Reunion
Half-Century Club Reunion
Faculty Lectures
Ernest C. Arbuckle Award
Alison Elliott Exceptional Achievement Award
ENCORE Award
Excellence in Leadership Award
John W. Gardner Volunteer Leadership Award
Robert K. Jaedicke Faculty Award
Jack McDonald Military Service Appreciation Award
Jerry I. Porras Latino Leadership Award
Tapestry Award
Student & Alumni Events
Executive Recruiters
Interviewing
Land the Perfect Job with LinkedIn
Negotiating
Elevator Pitch
Email Best Practices
Resumes & Cover Letters
Self-Assessment
Whitney Birdwell Ball
Margaret Brooks
Bryn Panee Burkhart
Margaret Chan
Ricki Frankel
Peter Gandolfo
Cindy W. Greig
Natalie Guillen
Carly Janson
Sloan Klein
Sherri Appel Lassila
Stuart Meyer
Tanisha Parrish
Virginia Roberson
Philippe Taieb
Michael Takagawa
Terra Winston
Johanna Wise
Debbie Wolter
Rebecca Zucker
Complimentary Coaching
Changing Careers
Work-Life Integration
Career Breaks
Flexible Work
Encore Careers
D&B Hoovers
Data Axle (ReferenceUSA)
EBSCO Business Source
Firsthand (Vault)
Global Newsstream
Market Share Reporter
ProQuest One Business
Student Clubs
Entrepreneurial Students
Stanford GSB Trust
Alumni Community
How to Volunteer
Springboard Sessions
Consulting Projects
2020 – 2029
2010 – 2019
2000 – 2009
1990 – 1999
1980 – 1989
1970 – 1979
1960 – 1969
1950 – 1959
1940 – 1949
Service Areas
ACT History
ACT Awards Celebration
ACT Governance Structure
Building Leadership for ACT
Individual Leadership Positions
Leadership Role Overview
Purpose of the ACT Management Board
Contact ACT
Business & Nonprofit Communities
Reunion Volunteers
Ways to Give
Fiscal Year Report
Business School Fund Leadership Council
Planned Giving Options
Planned Giving Benefits
Planned Gifts and Reunions
Legacy Partners
Giving News & Stories
Giving Deadlines
Development Staff
Submit Class Notes
Class Secretaries
Board of Directors
Health Care
Sustainability
Class Takeaways
All Else Equal: Making Better Decisions
If/Then: Business, Leadership, Society
Grit & Growth
Think Fast, Talk Smart
Spring 2022
Spring 2021
Autumn 2020
Summer 2020
Winter 2020
In the Media
For Journalists
DCI Fellows
Other Auditors
Academic Calendar & Deadlines
Course Materials
Entrepreneurial Resources
Campus Drive Grove
Campus Drive Lawn
CEMEX Auditorium
King Community Court
Seawell Family Boardroom
Stanford GSB Bowl
Stanford Investors Common
Town Square
Vidalakis Courtyard
Vidalakis Dining Hall
Catering Services
Policies & Guidelines
Reservations
Contact Faculty Recruiting
Lecturer Positions
Postdoctoral Positions
Accommodations
CMC-Managed Interviews
Recruiter-Managed Interviews
Virtual Interviews
Campus & Virtual
Search for Candidates
Think Globally
Recruiting Calendar
Recruiting Policies
Full-Time Employment
Summer Employment
Entrepreneurial Summer Program
Global Management Immersion Experience
Social-Purpose Summer Internships
Process Overview
Project Types
Client Eligibility Criteria
Client Screening
ACT Leadership
Social Innovation & Nonprofit Management Resources
Develop Your Organization’s Talent
Centers & Initiatives
Student Fellowships

Home — Essay Samples — Life — Helping Others — My Motivation to Helping Others

My Motivation to Helping Others

Categories: Helping Others

About this sample

Words: 794 |

Published: Mar 14, 2019

Words: 794 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Works Cited:

Baumrind, D. (1991). The influence of parenting style on adolescent competence and substance use. Journal of Early Adolescence, 11(1), 56-95.
Darling, N., & Steinberg, L. (1993). Parenting style as context: An integrative model. Psychological Bulletin, 113(3), 487-496.
Grolnick, W. S., & Slowiaczek, M. L. (1994). Parents’ involvement in children's schooling: A multidimensional conceptualization and motivational model. Child development, 65(1), 237-252.
Leung, A. K., & Wong, W. C. (2017). Parenting styles and academic achievement: A cross-cultural study. Journal of Family Issues, 38(13), 1879-1906. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X16654410
Maccoby, E. E., & Martin, J. A. (1983). Socialization in the context of the family: Parent-child interaction. In P. H. Mussen & E. M. Hetherington (Eds.), Handbook of child psychology: Vol. 4. Socialization, personality, and social development (4th ed., pp. 1-101). Wiley.
Menchaca, M. P., & Genuchi, M. C. (2020). Parenting styles and adolescent’s self-esteem: A systematic review. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 25(1), 1072-1082. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2020.1721564
Murphy, T. F., & Barry, C. M. (2018). Parenting styles and adolescent academic achievement: A study of Irish second-level students. Journal of Family Studies, 24(3), 249-264. https://doi.org/10.1080/13229400.2016.1271389
Patterson, G. R., Reid, J. B., & Dishion, T. J. (1992). Antisocial boys. Castalia Publishing Company.
Shek, D. T. (2008). Perceived parental control processes, parent-child relational qualities, and psychological well-being in Chinese adolescents with economic disadvantage. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 169(3), 219-238.
Steinberg, L., Mounts, N. S., Lamborn, S. D., & Dornbusch, S. M. (1991). Authoritative parenting and adolescent adjustment across varied ecological niches. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 1(1), 19-36.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Verified writer

Expert in: Life

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

4 pages / 1939 words

2 pages / 990 words

3 pages / 1232 words

2 pages / 1033 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Helping Others

'Surgeon Job Description: Salary, Skills, & More.' The Balance Careers, www.thebalancecareers.com/surgeon-526057. 'Surgeon.' U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [...]

McLeod, S. (n.d.). Counselling. Simply Psychology. Retrieved from https://www.simplypsychology.org/counselling.html

Batson, C. D. (2011). Altruism in Humans. Oxford University Press.Clutton-Brock, T. H. (2009). Cooperation between non-kin in animal societies. Nature, 462(7269), 51-57.Trivers, R. L. (1971). The evolution of reciprocal [...]

The act of helping the poor and needy holds profound significance in fostering a just and compassionate society. As we navigate the complexities of modern life, it becomes increasingly imperative to address the challenges faced [...]

Every year, especially around the winter holidays, companies advertise that giving is the greatest gift, and that helping someone and being charitable may make someone feel better about oneself. Because of the complexity of [...]

Family is quite possibly the most critical component to the success of Bass Engineering Company; and while more and more people are working from home these days, our teams travel. I mean they put on some miles. This year alone, [...]

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

Instructions Followed To The Letter
Deadlines Met At Every Stage
Unique And Plagiarism Free

Search form

Find Stories
For Journalists

Asking for help is hard, but people want to help more than we realize, Stanford scholar says

We underestimate just how willing people want to assist others and how positive they feel about doing so.

Asking for help is hard, but others want to help more than we often give them credit for, says Stanford social psychologist Xuan Zhao .

Xuan Zhao (Image credit: Anne Ryan)

We shy away from asking for help because we don’t want to bother other people, assuming that our request will feel like an inconvenience to them. But oftentimes, the opposite is true: People want to make a difference in people’s lives and they feel good – happy even – when they are able to help others, said Zhao.

Here, Zhao discusses the research about how asking for help can lead to meaningful experiences and strengthen relationships with others – friends as well as strangers.

Zhao is a research scientist at Stanford SPARQ , a research center in the Psychology Department that brings researchers and practitioners together to fight bias, reduce disparities, and drive culture change. Zhao’s research focuses on helping people create better social interactions in person and online where they feel seen, heard, connected, and appreciated. Her research, recently published in Psychological Science , suggests that people regularly underestimate others’ willingness to help.

This fall, Zhao will be co-teaching a two-session workshop Science-Based Practices for a Flourishing Life through Stanford’s well-being program for employees, BeWell.

Why is asking for help hard? For someone who finds it difficult to ask for help, what would you like them to know?

There are several common reasons why people struggle to ask for help. Some people may fear that asking for help would make them appear incompetent, weak, or inferior – recent research from Stanford doctoral student Kayla Good finds that children as young as seven can hold this belief. Some people are concerned about being rejected, which can be embarrassing and painful. Others may be concerned about burdening and inconveniencing others – a topic I recently explored. These concerns may feel more relevant in some contexts than others, but they are all very relatable and very human.

The good news is those concerns are oftentimes exaggerated and mistaken.

What do people misunderstand about asking for help?

When people are in need of help, they are often caught up in their own concerns and worries and do not fully recognize the prosocial motivations of those around them who are ready to help. This can introduce a persistent difference between how help-seekers and potential helpers consider the same helping event. To test this idea, we conducted several experiments where people either directly interacted with each other to seek and offer help, or imagined or recalled such experiences in everyday life. We consistently observed that help-seekers underestimated how willing strangers – and even friends – would be to help them and how positive helpers would feel afterward, and overestimated how inconvenienced helpers would feel.

These patterns are consistent with work by Stanford psychologist Dale Miller showing that when thinking about what motivates other people, we tend to apply a more pessimistic, self-interested view about human nature. After all, Western societies tend to value independence, so asking others to go out of their way to do something for us may seem wrong or selfish and may impose a somewhat negative experience on the helper.

The truth is, most of us are deeply prosocial and want to make a positive difference in others’ lives. Work by Stanford psychologist Jamil Zaki has shown that empathizing with and helping others in need seems to be an intuitive response, and dozens of studies , including my own, have found that people often feel happier after conducting acts of kindness. These findings extend earlier research by Stanford Professor Frank Flynn and colleagues suggesting that people tend to overestimate how likely their direct request for help would be rejected by others. Finally, other research has even shown that seeking advice can even boost how competent the help-seeker is seen by the advice-giver.

Why is asking for help particularly important?

We love stories about spontaneous help, and that may explain why random acts of kindness go viral on social media. But in reality , the majority of help occurs only after a request has been made. It’s often not because people don’t want to help and must be pressed to do so. Quite the opposite, people want to help, but they can’t help if they don’t know someone is suffering or struggling, or what the other person needs and how to help effectively, or whether it is their place to help – perhaps they want to respect others’ privacy or agency. A direct request can remove those uncertainties, such that asking for help enables kindness and unlocks opportunities for positive social connections. It can also create emotional closeness when you realize someone trusts you enough to share their vulnerabilities, and by working together toward a shared goal.

It feels like some requests for help may be harder to ask than others. What does research say about different types of help, and how can we use those insights to help us figure out how we should ask for help?

Many factors can influence how difficult it may feel to ask for help. Our recent research has primarily focused on everyday scenarios where the other person is clearly able to help, and all you need is to show up and ask. In some other cases, the kind of help you need may require more specific skills or resources. As long as you make your request Specific, Meaningful, Action-oriented, Realistic, and Time-bound (also known as the SMART criteria ), people will likely be happy to help and feel good after helping.

Of course, not all requests have to be specific. When we face mental health challenges, we may have difficulty articulating what kind of help we need. It is okay to reach out to mental health resources and take the time to figure things out together. They are there to help, and they are happy to help.

You mentioned how cultural norms can get in the way of people asking for help. What is one thing we can all do to rethink the role society plays in our lives?

Work on independent and interdependent cultures by Hazel Markus , faculty director of Stanford SPARQ , can shed much light on this issue. Following her insights, I think we can all benefit from having a little bit more interdependency in our micro- and macro-environments. For instance, instead of promoting “self-care” and implying that it is people’s own responsibility to sort through their own struggles, perhaps our culture could emphasize the value of caring for each other and create more safe spaces to allow open discussions about our challenges and imperfections.

What inspired your research?

I have always been fascinated by social interaction – how we understand and misunderstand each other’s minds, and how social psychology can help people create more positive and meaningful connections. That’s why I have studied topics such as giving compliments , discussing disagreement , sharing personal failures, creating inclusive conversations on social media , and translating social and positive psychology research as daily practices for the public . This project is also motivated by that general passion.

But a more immediate trigger of this project is reading scholarly work suggesting that the reason why people underestimate their likelihood of getting help is because they don’t recognize how uncomfortable and awkward it would be for someone to say “no” to their request. I agree that people underestimate their chance of getting help upon a direct ask, but based on my personal experience, I saw a different reason – when people ask me for help, I often feel genuinely motivated to help them, more than feeling social pressure and a wish to avoid saying no. This project is to voice my different interpretation on why people agree to help. And given that I’ve seen people who have struggled for too long until it was too late to ask for help, I hope my findings can offer them a bit more comfort when the next time they can really use a helping hand and are debating whether they should ask.

10 Keys to Happier Living

Everyone's path to happiness is different. based on the latest research, we have identified 10 keys to happier living that consistently tend to make life happier and more fulfilling. together they spell great dream., you can explore them all below..

Do kind things for others

If you want to feel good, doing good is a great place to start..

Helping and being kind not only contributes to the happiness of others, it can also help us to feel happier ourselves! [1] Studies have shown that when we do kind things it can literally gives our brain a boost, activating its ‘reward centres’ [2] and that feels good. It can take our minds off our own worries too.

Giving and kindness also help us feel connected to others which is important for our wellbeing and contributes to building stronger communities and a happier society for everyone. [3]

There are lots of different ways we can give and help others .

Every act of kindness counts

From small acts like a friendly smile, a few kind words, helping with bags, or offering up our seat, through to regular volunteering - there are lots of different ways we can give or be kind. We can of course donate money to good causes if we are able to and we can give in lots of non-financial ways too, such as giving a moment of attention, some of our time, knowledge, ideas, energy or support, or even sometimes by giving people the benefit of the doubt, instead of instantly judging them. Acts of kindness add up for our own and others wellbeing and all contribute to creating happier communities. [4]

Reflection: What’s a small act of kindness you could do today?

Helping others can boost happiness in many ways

Scientific studies show that helping others can contribute to our happiness in different ways. These include: experiencing more positive emotions and satisfaction with life [5]; increasing our sense of meaning [6], and boosting our self-confidence. It can reduce stress and help us feel calmer too. [7] Some studies have found that people who volunteered regularly were found to be more hopeful and experience fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety and may even live longer. [8] Not all acts of helping boost how happy we feel – to maximise the benefits, it’s important that we’ve chosen if or how we help; we can see or sense that it will have a positive impact; and it helps us feel more connected to others. [9]

So if you want to feel good, find ways you can do good!

Reflection: When was a time that you chose to give or help others that boosted how happy you felt? What contributed to that?

Everyone needs kindness

Giving and being kind can help us feel more connected to others and contribute to nurturing our relationships - and that’s good for wellbeing all round! [10] Our acts of kindness might be for family, friends, colleagues, or neighbours or even strangers. They could be old or young, nearby or far away. It could be a one-off spontaneous gesture or something we do regularly. It could be a compassionate response in a time of crisis or need or simply because it’s a nice thing to do. There are always ways to be kind.

Reflection: Who have you been kind to recently? Who has been kind to you?

Create kindness ripples

Studies have shown that when we do something kind both the recipient and other people who witness that kind act are more likely to be kind themselves. [11] So our kindnesses are amplified, contributing to a happier world! Expressing gratitude for help others give us also ripples out too. [12]

Reflection: Who can you thank for what they give to you?

Ask for help when you need it

Think about it - if helping others boosts happiness, asking for help when we need it could give the person we ask the opportunity for a feel good boost. It can also mean they are then more likely to ask for help when they need it. Certainly communities where people feel they can rely on others to help are happier and more resilient. [13] Asking for help builds connection - so it isn’t only for when we are struggling. We can also ask for help to share experiences, when we’d value support, or when we want to learn something new.

Reflection: What’s something you’d like help with? Who can you ask?

Balancing your own needs and those of others

Helping is associated with increased happiness and health, but feeling obligated or overly burdened by it can be detrimental, [14] as can be the case for long-term carers. If you are a carer, taking care of your own wellbeing matters – for yourself and the people you are helping. Even small actions that give you a quick break or a boost can help you sustain your physical and psychological health and so your ability to continue caring for others.

Reflection: What is an action you can take to maintain your own wellbeing, to help you sustain caring for others?

Sustainable giving

As a general rule, we can be more effective, regular givers if we find ways to help that we enjoy, which are in line with our own strengths and feel worthwhile or meaningful. If we are happier givers, the recipients will likely benefit more, and we are more likely to continue to give. Choosing how we help and give to others, giving in ways that boost our sense of social connection and in which we feel effective and impactful all matter in order to sustain giving and helping others. [15] Happier people tend to help others more, so taking care of your own wellbeing helps you sustain giving too. [16]

Reflection: What ways of helping others do you enjoy or find energising?

1 Curry, O. S., Rowland, L. A., Van Lissa, C. J., Zlotowitz, S., McAlaney, J., & Whitehouse, H. (2018). Happy to help? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of performing acts of kindness on the well-being of the actor. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 76, 320-329. Aknin, L. B., Dunn, E. W., &; Norton, M. I. (2012). Happiness runs in a circular motion: Evidence for a positive feedback loop between prosocial spending and happiness. Journal of Happiness Studies, 13(2), 347-355.

2 Harbaugh, W. T., Mayr, U., &; Burghart, D. R. (2007). Neural responses to taxation and voluntary giving reveal motives for charitable donations. Science, 316(5831), 1622-1625.

3 Aknin, L. B., Whillans, A. V., Norton, M. I., & Dunn, E. W. (2019). Happiness and prosocial behavior: An evaluation of the evidence. World Happiness Report 2019, 67-86. Okabe-Miyamoto, K., &; Lyubomirsky, S. (2021). Social connection and well-being during COVID-19. World Happiness Report, 131-152.

4 Aknin, L. B., Whillans, A. V., Norton, M. I., & Dunn, E. W. (2019). Happiness and prosocial behavior: An evaluation of the evidence. World Happiness Report 2019, 67-86. Okabe-Miyamoto, K., &; Lyubomirsky, S. (2021). Social connection and well-being during COVID-19. World Happiness Report, 131-152.

5 Aknin, L. B., & Whillans, A. V. (2021). Helping and happiness: A review and guide for public policy. Social Issues and Policy Review, 15(1), 3-34.

6 What Works Centre for Wellbeing Briefing Paper (2020) Volunteer wellbeing: what works and who benefits? https://whatworkswellbeing.org/resources/volunteer-wellbeing-what-works-and-who-benefits/

7 Luks, A. A. (1988). Helper's high. Psychology Today, 22(10), 39.; Piliavin, J. (2003). Doing well by doing good: Benefits for the benefactor. In C. M. Keyes, J. Haidt, C. M. Keyes, J. Haidt (Eds.) , Flourishing: Positive psychology and the life well-lived (pp. 227-247). Washington, DC US: American Psychological Association.

8 Aknin, L. B., Whillans, A. V., Norton, M. I., & Dunn, E. W. (2019). Happiness and prosocial behavior: An evaluation of the evidence. World Happiness Report 2019, 67-86. Curry, O. S., Rowland, L. A., Van Lissa, C. J., Zlotowitz, S., McAlaney, J., &; Whitehouse, H. (2018). Happy to help? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of performing acts of kindness on the well-being of the actor. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 76, 320-329. King, V. (2016) 10 Keys to Happier Living – A Practical Guide for Happiness. Hachette. Lyubomirsky, S, Sheldon, K M, &; Schkade, D. (2005). Pursuing happiness: The architecture of sustainable change. Review of General Psychology, 9(2), 111 - 131

9 Aknin, L. B., & Whillans, A. V. (2021). Helping and happiness: A review and guide for public policy. Social Issues and Policy Review, 15(1), 3-34.; King, V. (2016) 10 Keys to Happier Living – A Practical Guide for Happiness. Hachette.

10 Aknin, L. B., & Whillans, A. V. (2021). Helping and happiness: A review and guide for public policy. Social Issues and Policy Review, 15(1), 3-34.; Helliwell, J. F., Aknin, L. B., Shiplett, H., Huang, H., & Wang, S. (2017). Social capital and prosocial behaviour as sources of well-being. National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper 23761

11 Jung, H., Seo, E., Han, E., Henderson, M. D., and Patall, E. A. (2020). Prosocial modeling: A meta-analytic review and synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 146(8), 635

12 Algoe, S. B., Dwyer, P. C., Younge, A., &; Oveis, C. (2020). A new perspective on the social functions of emotions: Gratitude and the witnessing effect. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 119(1), 40.

13 Aknin, L. B., & Whillans, A. V. (2021). Helping and happiness: A review and guide for public policy. Social Issues and Policy Review, 15(1), 3-34.; Helliwell, J. F., Aknin, L. B., Shiplett, H., Huang, H., &; Wang, S. (2017). Social capital and prosocial behaviour as sources of well-being. National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper 23761

14 Aknin, L. B., & Whillans, A. V. (2021). Helping and happiness: A review and guide for public policy. Social Issues and Policy Review, 15(1), 3-34

15 Aknin, L. B., & Whillans, A. V. (2021). Helping and happiness: A review and guide for public policy. Social Issues and Policy Review, 15(1), 3-34.; King, V. (2016) 10 Keys to Happier Living – A Practical Guide for Happiness. Hachette.

16 Aknin, L. B., Dunn, E. W., & Norton, M. I. (2012). Happiness runs in a circular motion: Evidence for a positive feedback loop between prosocial spending and happiness. Journal of Happiness Studies, 13(2), 347-355.

Take the 10 Keys to Happier Living online coaching programme.

No act of kindness no matter how small is ever wasted

No-one can take away from you that which you have given

Gratitude is like breathing in – letting ourselves be touched by the goodness in others and in our world. Generosity is like breathing out – sensing our mutual belonging and offering our care.

The 10 Keys

Interact with the buttons above to find out more., for each of the ten, you'll find information on the science, opportunities for reflection and practical actions to help apply them to your daily life..

Discover how to apply the 10 keys to your life and boost your wellbeing.

Discover how to be happier and create a happier world.

Our Daily Action - 1

Download the FREE Action for Happiness app for iOS or Android

Action for Happiness is a Registered Charity (1175160) and Company Limited by Guarantee (10722435) in England and Wales.

Built by 89up

Do you want to help create a happier and kinder world? If so, please join our movement, add your pledge and we'll send you practical action ideas to make a difference. By choosing to Join, you trust Action for Happiness to take care of your personal information and agree to our Privacy Policy .

The Social Psychology Perspectives On Helping Others

The helping behaviour is a concept in social psychology which believes that a person voluntarily gives assistance to others, without regard as to whether a reward is expected in return or not. Various theories explain the psychology of helping – is it intrinsic, or self-motivated, or is it influenced by other variables?

Why do people help?

Intrinsic motivators.

Evolutionary Theory – The Kin selection model

Given that evolution supports natural selection, one would perform behaviours to increase their chances of surviving. An example of this can be seen in a family of hunters who help each other – if they share their resources and food with one another, the chances that they will survive and reproduce is greater than a family who does otherwise.

The Norm of Reciprocity

The idea of reciprocity states that a person helps because he expects to be helped in return. Furthermore, it also states that a person who has been helped previously, would feel indebted to help back those who helped them.

Arousal: Cost Reward Theory

According to this theory, the presence of an emergency situation elicits emotional arousal in bystanders. This feeling of arousal may be fear, anxiety or sympathy. When a bystander starts to feel as such, he becomes upset and extends help to the situation to relieve such feelings. The heavier the need, the more emotionally straining it is, therefore increasing the likelihood of wanting to help.

This theory suggests that the helping behaviour is driven by the need to relieve oneself from the emotional arousal brought about by situations in which help is needed.

Extrinsic motivators

Empathy-Altruism Theory

Altruism is the idea of helping others without expecting anything in return. Empathy, on the other hand, is the ability of a person to place oneself in another’s shoes to understand what the other is feeling. This theory combines the idea of both – when one feels empathic towards another, he feels the need to help and relieve them of their suffering.

This theory revolves around ‘empathic concern,’ which are emotions felt by a person when he sees somebody in need. The person’s priority now centers around the other person’s needs and relieving them, instead of focusing on his own.

The Norm of Social Responsibility

Social responsibility is a feeling that a person has an obligation to act in such a way that benefits the whole society. With this, a person has a duty to fulfil to maintain the balance in his environment. A person may do this actively, for example donating money to government NGO’s, or passively, such as ensuring that he commits no harm to others with his deeds.

Why do people not help?

The Bystander effect

This concept states that the presence of bystanders inhibits or decreases the likelihood of a person helping another. The more bystanders there are, the less likely that the person will extend help [ an experiment on bystander effect ]. Several variables explain as to why this occurs.

This variable pertains to a person’s perception of how grave the need is. High ambiguity situations would cause a person to have second thoughts about helping – for example, a soft cry vs. a loud scream.

Cohesiveness

This variable affects the likelihood that bystanders will help another based on familiarity with the person in need.

Diffusion of responsibility

The presence of other bystanders leads one to believe that the others will take responsibility. This may be affected by skills or qualifications, in which one believes that others are more qualified to help, thereby avoiding giving unwarranted assistance.

The Social Psychology Aspect of Attitude
What is Social Relationship?
To Help or Not To Help?
Motivation in psychology
The Psychology of Aggression

Categories: Psychology notes Social Psychology

2 Responses

Pingbacks 0

references, please ..

Who is the author ?

6 – Helping and Prosocial Behavior

Introduction, learning objectives:.

Identify the factors that influence helping
Describe diffusion of responsibility
Describe pluralistic ignorance
Identify personality characteristics that may influence altruistic behavior
Learn which situational and social factors affect when a bystander will help another in need.
Understand which personality and individual difference factors make some people more likely to help than others.
Discover whether we help others out of a sense of altruistic concern for the victim, for more self-centered and egoistic motives, or both.

People often act to benefit other people, and these acts are examples of prosocial behavior. Such behaviors may come in many guises: helping an individual in need; sharing personal resources; volunteering time, effort, and expertise; cooperating with others to achieve some common goals. The focus of this module is on helping—prosocial acts in dyadic situations in which one person is in need and another provides the necessary assistance to eliminate the other’s need. Although people are often in need, help is not always given. Why not? The decision of whether or not to help is not as simple and straightforward as it might seem, and many factors need to be considered by those who might help. In this module, we will try to understand how the decision to help is made by answering the question: Who helps when and why?

A younger man and woman help an elderly gentleman down the street.

Go to YouTube and search for episodes of “Primetime: What Would You Do?” You will find video segments in which apparently innocent individuals are victimized, while onlookers typically fail to intervene. The events are all staged, but they are very real to the bystanders on the scene. The entertainment offered is the nature of the bystanders’ responses, and viewers are outraged when bystanders fail to intervene. They are convinced that they would have helped. But would they? Viewers are overly optimistic in their beliefs that they would play the hero. Helping may occur frequently, but help is not always given to those in need. So when do people help, and when do they not? All people are not equally helpful— who helps? Why would a person help another in the first place? Many factors go into a person’s decision to help—a fact that the viewers do not fully appreciate. This module will answer the question: Who helps when and why?

When Do People Help?

Social psychologists are interested in answering this question because it is apparent that people vary in their tendency to help others. In 2010 for instance, Hugo Alfredo Tale-Yax was stabbed when he apparently tried to intervene in an argument between a man and woman. As he lay dying in the street, only one man checked his status, but many others simply glanced at the scene and continued on their way. (One passerby did stop to take a cellphone photo, however.) Unfortunately, failures to come to the aid of someone in need are not unique, as the segments on “What Would You Do?” show. Help is not always forthcoming for those who may need it the most. Trying to understand why people do not always help became the focus of bystander intervention research (e.g., Latané & Darley, 1970 ).

To answer the question regarding when people help, researchers have focused on

how bystanders come to define emergencies,
when they decide to take responsibility for helping , and
how the costs and benefits of intervening affect their decisions of whether to help.

Defining the situation: The role of pluralistic ignorance

The decision to help is not a simple yes/no proposition. In fact, a series of questions must be addressed before help is given—even in emergencies in which time may be of the essence. Sometimes help comes quickly; an onlooker recently jumped from a Philadelphia subway platform to help a stranger who had fallen on the track. Help was clearly needed and was quickly given. But some situations are ambiguous, and potential helpers may have to decide whether a situation is one in which help, in fact, needs to be given.

To define ambiguous situations (including many emergencies), potential helpers may look to the action of others to decide what should be done. But those others are looking around too, also trying to figure out what to do. Everyone is looking, but no one is acting! Relying on others to define the situation and to then erroneously conclude that no intervention is necessary when help is actually needed is called pluralistic ignorance ( Latané & Darley, 1970 ). When people use the inactions of others to define their own course of action, the resulting pluralistic ignorance leads to less help being given.

Do I have to be the one to help?: Diffusion of responsibility

A huge crowd of people stand shoulder to shoulder during the 2010 World Cup.

Simply being with others may facilitate or inhibit whether we get involved in other ways as well. In situations in which help is needed, the presence or absence of others may affect whether a bystander will assume personal responsibility to give the assistance. If the bystander is alone, personal responsibility to help falls solely on the shoulders of that person. But what if others are present? Although it might seem that having more potential helpers around would increase the chances of the victim getting help, the opposite is often the case. Knowing that someone else could help seems to relieve bystanders of personal responsibility, so bystanders do not intervene. This phenomenon is known as diffusion of responsibility ( Darley & Latané, 1968 ).

On the other hand, watch the video of the race officials following the 2013 Boston Marathon after two bombs exploded as runners crossed the finish line. Despite the presence of many spectators, the yellow-jacketed race officials immediately rushed to give aid and comfort to the victims of the blast. Each one no doubt felt a personal responsibility to help by virtue of their official capacity in the event; fulfilling the obligations of their roles overrode the influence of the diffusion of responsibility effect.

There is an extensive body of research showing the negative impact of pluralistic ignorance and diffusion of responsibility on helping ( Fisher et al., 2011 ), in both emergencies and everyday need situations. These studies show the tremendous importance potential helpers place on the social situation in which unfortunate events occur, especially when it is not clear what should be done and who should do it. Other people provide important social information about how we should act and what our personal obligations might be. But does knowing a person needs help and accepting responsibility to provide that help mean the person will get assistance? Not necessarily.

The costs and rewards of helping

The nature of the help needed plays a crucial role in determining what happens next. Specifically, potential helpers engage in a cost–benefit analysis before getting involved ( Dovidio et al., 2006 ). If the needed help is of relatively low cost in terms of time, money, resources, or risk, then help is more likely to be given. Lending a classmate a pencil is easy; confronting someone who is bullying your friend is an entirely different matter. As the unfortunate case of Hugo Alfredo Tale-Yax demonstrates, intervening may cost the life of the helper.

The potential rewards of helping someone will also enter into the equation, perhaps offsetting the cost of helping. Thanks from the recipient of help may be a sufficient reward. If helpful acts are recognized by others, helpers may receive social rewards of praise or monetary rewards. Even avoiding feelings of guilt if one does not help may be considered a benefit. Potential helpers consider how much helping will cost and compare those costs to the rewards that might be realized; it is the economics of helping. If costs outweigh the rewards, helping is less likely. If rewards are greater than cost, helping is more likely.

Do you know someone who always seems to be ready, willing, and able to help? Do you know someone who never helps out? It seems there are personality and individual differences in the helpfulness of others. To answer the question of who chooses to help, researchers have examined 1) the role that sex and gender play in helping, 2) what personality traits are associated with helping, and 3) the characteristics of the “prosocial personality.”

Who are more helpful—men or women?

A group of men and women stand together in a muddy field with shovels and wheelbarrows as they participate in an outdoor volunteer project.

In terms of individual differences that might matter, one obvious question is whether men or women are more likely to help. In one of the “What Would You Do?” segments, a man takes a woman’s purse from the back of her chair and then leaves the restaurant. Initially, no one responds, but as soon as the woman asks about her missing purse, a group of men immediately rush out the door to catch the thief. So, are men more helpful than women? The quick answer is “not necessarily.” It all depends on the type of help needed. To be very clear, the general level of helpfulness may be pretty much equivalent between the sexes, but men and women help in different ways ( Becker & Eagly, 2004 ; Eagly & Crowley, 1986 ). What accounts for these differences?

Two factors help to explain sex and gender differences in helping. The first is related to the cost–benefit analysis process discussed previously. Physical differences between men and women may come into play (e.g., Wood & Eagly, 2002 ); the fact that men tend to have greater upper body strength than women makes the cost of intervening in some situations less for a man. Confronting a thief is a risky proposition, and some strength may be needed in case the perpetrator decides to fight. A bigger, stronger bystander is less likely to be injured and more likely to be successful.

The second explanation is simple socialization. Men and women have traditionally been raised to play different social roles that prepare them to respond differently to the needs of others, and people tend to help in ways that are most consistent with their gender roles. Female gender roles encourage women to be compassionate, caring, and nurturing; male gender roles encourage men to take physical risks, to be heroic and chivalrous, and to be protective of those less powerful. As a consequence of social training and the gender roles that people have assumed, men may be more likely to jump onto subway tracks to save a fallen passenger, but women are more likely to give comfort to a friend with personal problems ( Diekman & Eagly, 2000 ; Eagly & Crowley, 1986 ). There may be some specialization in the types of help given by the two sexes, but it is nice to know that there is someone out there—man or woman—who is able to give you the help that you need, regardless of what kind of help it might be.

A trait for being helpful: Agreeableness

Graziano and his colleagues (e.g., Graziano & Tobin, 2009 ; Graziano, Habishi, Sheese, & Tobin, 2007 ) have explored how agreeableness —one of the Big Five personality dimensions (e.g., Costa & McCrae, 1988 )—plays an important role in prosocial behavior . Agreeableness is a core trait that includes such dispositional characteristics as being sympathetic, generous, forgiving, and helpful, and behavioral tendencies toward harmonious social relations and likeability. At the conceptual level, a positive relationship between agreeableness and helping may be expected, and research by Graziano et al. ( 2007 ) has found that those higher on the agreeableness dimension are, in fact, more likely than those low on agreeableness to help siblings, friends, strangers, or members of some other group. Agreeable people seem to expect that others will be similarly cooperative and generous in interpersonal relations, and they, therefore, act in helpful ways that are likely to elicit positive social interactions.

Searching for the prosocial personality

Rather than focusing on a single trait, Penner and his colleagues ( Penner, Fritzsche, Craiger, & Freifeld, 1995 ; Penner & Orom, 2010 ) have taken a somewhat broader perspective and identified what they call the prosocial personality orientation . Their research indicates that two major characteristics are related to the prosocial personality and prosocial behavior. The first characteristic is called other-oriented empathy : People high on this dimension have a strong sense of social responsibility, empathize with and feel emotionally tied to those in need, understand the problems the victim is experiencing, and have a heightened sense of moral obligation to be helpful. This factor has been shown to be highly correlated with the trait of agreeableness discussed previously. The second characteristic, helpfulness , is more behaviorally oriented. Those high on the helpfulness factor have been helpful in the past, and because they believe they can be effective with the help they give, they are more likely to be helpful in the future.

Finally, the question of why a person would help needs to be asked. What motivation is there for that behavior? Psychologists have suggested that 1) evolutionary forces may serve to predispose humans to help others, 2) egoistic concerns may determine if and when help will be given, and 3) selfless, altruistic motives may also promote helping in some cases.

Evolutionary roots for prosocial behavior

Cave paintings from Western Australia appear to show an ancient family dressed in traditional clothes.

Our evolutionary past may provide keys about why we help ( Buss, 2004 ). Our very survival was no doubt promoted by the prosocial relations with clan and family members, and, as a hereditary consequence, we may now be especially likely to help those closest to us—blood-related relatives with whom we share a genetic heritage. According to evolutionary psychology, we are helpful in ways that increase the chances that our DNA will be passed along to future generations ( Burnstein, Crandall, & Kitayama, 1994 )—the goal of the “selfish gene” ( Dawkins, 1976 ). Our personal DNA may not always move on, but we can still be successful in getting some portion of our DNA transmitted if our daughters, sons, nephews, nieces, and cousins survive to produce offspring. The favoritism shown for helping our blood relatives is called kin selection ( Hamilton, 1964 ).

But, we do not restrict our relationships just to our own family members. We live in groups that include individuals who are unrelated to us, and we often help them too. Why? Reciprocal altruism ( Trivers, 1971 ) provides the answer. Because of reciprocal altruism, we are all better off in the long run if we help one another. If helping someone now increases the chances that you will be helped later, then your overall chances of survival are increased. There is the chance that someone will take advantage of your help and not return your favors. But people seem predisposed to identify those who fail to reciprocate, and punishments including social exclusion may result ( Buss, 2004 ). Cheaters will not enjoy the benefit of help from others, reducing the likelihood of the survival of themselves and their kin.

Evolutionary forces may provide a general inclination for being helpful, but they may not be as good an explanation for why we help in the here and now. What factors serve as proximal influences for decisions to help?

Egoistic motivation for helping

Most people would like to think that they help others because they are concerned about the other person’s plight. In truth, the reasons why we help may be more about ourselves than others: Egoistic or selfish motivations may make us help. Implicitly, we may ask, “What’s in it for me ?” There are two major theories that explain what types of reinforcement helpers may be seeking. The negative state relief model (e.g., Cialdini, Darby, & Vincent, 1973 ; Cialdini, Kenrick, & Baumann, 1982 ) suggests that people sometimes help in order to make themselves feel better. Whenever we are feeling sad, we can use helping someone else as a positive mood boost to feel happier. Through socialization, we have learned that helping can serve as a secondary reinforcement that will relieve negative moods ( Cialdini & Kenrick, 1976 ).

The arousal: cost–reward model provides an additional way to understand why people help (e.g., Piliavin, Dovidio, Gaertner, & Clark, 1981 ). This model focuses on the aversive feelings aroused by seeing another in need. If you have ever heard an injured puppy yelping in pain, you know that feeling, and you know that the best way to relieve that feeling is to help and to comfort the puppy. Similarly, when we see someone who is suffering in some way (e.g., injured, homeless, hungry), we vicariously experience a sympathetic arousal that is unpleasant, and we are motivated to eliminate that aversive state. One way to do that is to help the person in need. By eliminating the victim’s pain, we eliminate our own aversive arousal. Helping is an effective way to alleviate our own discomfort.

As an egoistic model, the arousal: cost–reward model explicitly includes the cost/reward considerations that come into play. Potential helpers will find ways to cope with the aversive arousal that will minimize their costs—maybe by means other than direct involvement. For example, the costs of directly confronting a knife-wielding assailant might stop a bystander from getting involved, but the cost of some indirect help (e.g., calling the police) may be acceptable. In either case, the victim’s need is addressed. Unfortunately, if the costs of helping are too high, bystanders may reinterpret the situation to justify not helping at all. For some, fleeing the situation causing their distress may do the trick ( Piliavin et al., 1981 ).

The egoistically based negative state relief model and the arousal: cost–reward model see the primary motivation for helping as being the helper’s own outcome. Recognize that the victim’s outcome is of relatively little concern to the helper—benefits to the victim are incidental byproducts of the exchange ( Dovidio et al., 2006 ). The victim may be helped, but the helper’s real motivation according to these two explanations is egoistic: Helpers help to the extent that it makes them feel better.

Altruistic help

A woman stops on the sidewalk to offer food to a man holding a sign reading "Homeless, please help Thank you."

Although many researchers believe that egoism is the only motivation for helping, others suggest that altruism —helping that has as its ultimate goal the improvement of another’s welfare—may also be a motivation for helping under the right circumstances. Batson ( 2011 ) has offered the empathy–altruism model to explain altruistically motivated helping for which the helper expects no benefits. According to this model, the key for altruism is empathizing with the victim, that is, putting oneself in the shoes of the victim and imagining how the victim must feel. When taking this perspective and having empathic concern , potential helpers become primarily interested in increasing the well-being of the victim, even if the helper must incur some costs that might otherwise be easily avoided. The empathy–altruism model does not dismiss egoistic motivations; helpers not empathizing with a victim may experience personal distress and have an egoistic motivation, not unlike the feelings and motivations explained by the arousal: cost–reward model. Because egoistically motivated individuals are primarily concerned with their own cost–benefit outcomes, they are less likely to help if they think they can escape the situation with no costs to themselves. In contrast, altruistically motivated helpers are willing to accept the cost of helping to benefit a person with whom they have empathized—this “self-sacrificial” approach to helping is the hallmark of altruism ( Batson, 2011 ).

Although there is still some controversy about whether people can ever act for purely altruistic motives, it is important to recognize that, while helpers may derive some personal rewards by helping another, the help that has been given is also benefitting someone who was in need. The residents who offered food, blankets, and shelter to stranded runners who were unable to get back to their hotel rooms because of the Boston Marathon bombing undoubtedly received positive rewards because of the help they gave, but those stranded runners who were helped got what they needed badly as well. “In fact, it is quite remarkable how the fates of people who have never met can be so intertwined and complementary. Your benefit is mine; and mine is yours” ( Dovidio et al., 2006 , p. 143).

A Red Cross volunteer assists an elderly lady from Mozambique, where a food distribution was taking place.

We started this module by asking the question, “Who helps when and why?” As we have shown, the question of when help will be given is not quite as simple as the viewers of “What Would You Do?” believe. The power of the situation that operates on potential helpers in real time is not fully considered. What might appear to be a split-second decision to help is actually the result of consideration of multiple situational factors (e.g., the helper’s interpretation of the situation, the presence and ability of others to provide the help, the results of a cost–benefit analysis) ( Dovidio et al., 2006 ). We have found that men and women tend to help in different ways—men are more impulsive and physically active, while women are more nurturing and supportive. Personality characteristics such as agreeableness and the prosocial personality orientation also affect people’s likelihood of giving assistance to others. And, why would people help in the first place? In addition to evolutionary forces (e.g., kin selection, reciprocal altruism), there is extensive evidence to show that helping and prosocial acts may be motivated by selfish, egoistic desires; by selfless, altruistic goals; or by some combination of egoistic and altruistic motives. (For a fuller consideration of the field of prosocial behavior, we refer you to Dovidio et al. [ 2006 ].)

Reflection/Discussion

In 1964, a young female named Kitty Genovese was stabbed outside of her home in Queens, New York. While 38 of her neighbors heard her cries for help, they did not intervene or call the police. The death of Kitty Genovese, and the apparent level of apathy of her neighbors, was appalling to the public at the time. It was shocking to think that so many individuals could ignore the cries of someone in need. The following video reviews the original Kitty Genovese case, which initially sparked interest in the response (or lack thereof) of bystanders. Watch this video about Kitty Genovese

What would cause so many individuals to hear and witness such a horrific event and not respond? Some argued it was a lack of concern and a level of dehumanization within the environment. Latane and Darley reviewed the Kitty Genovese case and felt that there were other factors at play in the case. Specifically, they hypothesized that that the very fact that there were so many witnesses may have impacted the response of bystanders. Latane and Darley (1968) conducted various experiments in order to test this hypothesis. One of their studies, the Smoke Filled Room, examined the influence that having others present can have on our willingness to act or respond, even in an emergency. The video below provides a simulated example of the study.

Currently, many question the accuracy of the original Kitty Genovese case. Is it true that no one really intervened or attempted to call for help? The following video provides updated information regarding the case:

Kitty Genovese case video

What influences someone’s desire to help? Watch the following simulation on helping and respond to the questions included in the video:

Please answer the 3 multiple choice questions below.

What would you do? The Kitty Genovese case sparked debate about bystander apathy and the diffusion of responsibility. When someone hears about the case, or other similar examples, it is common to think that we would respond differently. But would you? A popular television show attempted to test the idea in real life to see how people truly respond in emergency situations. The following video clip shows some of these scenarios.

What would you do? Video

So, diffusion of responsibility indicates that many individuals may not respond or act in an emergency, especially if several others are present, because they anticipate that someone else will likely respond. But what about situations that are not emergencies? Does diffusion of responsibility apply to our willingness to respond to daily tasks, such as responding to an email? Somers (2013) applies the concept of apathy to mass emails in the following article. Can you think of other examples where this apathy may present in relation to a diffusion of responsibility?

Read this article on diffusion of responsibility.

Helping and Prosocial Behavior Resources

Poepsel, D. L. & Schroeder, D. A. (2020). Helping and prosocial behavior. In R. Biswas-Diener & E. Diener (Eds), Noba textbook series: Psychology. Champaign, IL: DEF publishers. Retrieved from Helping and Prosocial Behavior

Outside Resources

Batson, C. D. (2011). Altruism in humans . New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Becker, S. W., & Eagly, A. H. (2004). The heroism of women and men. American Psychologist, 59 , 163–178.
Burnstein, E., Crandall, C., & Kitayama, S. (1994). Some neo-Darwinian decision rules for altruism: Weighing cues for inclusive fitness as a function of the biological importance of the decision. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67 , 773–789.
Buss, D. M. (2004). Evolutionary psychology: The new science of the mind . Boston, MA: Allyn Bacon.
Cialdini, R. B., & Kenrick, D. T. (1976). Altruism as hedonism: A social developmental perspective on the relationship of negative mood state and helping. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 34 , 907–914.
Cialdini, R. B., Darby, B. K. & Vincent, J. E. (1973). Transgression and altruism: A case for hedonism. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 9 , 502–516.
Cialdini, R. B., Kenrick, D. T., & Baumann, D. J. (1982). Effects of mood on prosocial behavior in children and adults. In N. Eisenberg (Ed.), The development of prosocial behavior (pp. 339–359). New York, NY: Academic Press.
Costa, P. T., & McCrae, R. R. (1998). Trait theories in personality. In D. F. Barone, M. Hersen, & V. B. Van Hasselt (Eds.), Advanced Personality (pp. 103–121). New York, NY: Plenum.
Darley, J. M. & Latané, B. (1968). Bystander intervention in emergencies: Diffusion of responsibility. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 8 , 377–383.
Dawkins, R. (1976). The selfish gene . Oxford, U.K.: Oxford University Press.
Diekman, A. B., & Eagly, A. H. (2000). Stereotypes as dynamic structures: Women and men of the past, present, and future. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 26 , 1171–1188.
Dovidio, J. F., Piliavin, J. A., Schroeder, D. A., & Penner, L. A. (2006). The social psychology of prosocial behavior . Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Eagly, A. H., & Crowley, M. (1986). Gender and helping behavior: A meta-analytic review of the social psychological literature. Psychological Review, 66 , 183–201.
Fisher, P., Krueger, J. I., Greitemeyer, T., Vogrincie, C., Kastenmiller, A., Frey, D., Henne, M., Wicher, M., & Kainbacher, M. (2011). The bystander-effect: A meta-analytic review of bystander intervention in dangerous and non-dangerous emergencies. Psychological Bulletin, 137 , 517–537.
Graziano, W. G., & Tobin, R. (2009). Agreeableness. In M. R. Leary & R. H. Hoyle (Eds.), Handbook of Individual Differences in Social Behavior . New York, NY: Guilford Press.
Graziano, W. G., Habashi, M. M., Sheese, B. E., & Tobin, R. M. (2007). Agreeableness, empathy, and helping: A person x situation perspective. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 93 , 583–599.
Hamilton, W. D. (1964). The genetic evolution of social behavior. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 7 , 1–52.
Latané, B., & Darley, J. M. (1970). The unresponsive bystander: Why doesn’t he help? New York, NY: Appleton-Century-Crofts.
Penner, L. A., & Orom, H. (2010). Enduring goodness: A Person X Situation perspective on prosocial behavior. In M. Mikuliner & P.R. Shaver, P.R. (Eds.), Prosocial motives, emotions, and behavior: The better angels of our nature (pp. 55–72). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Penner, L. A., Fritzsche, B. A., Craiger, J. P., & Freifeld, T. R. (1995). Measuring the prosocial personality. In J. Butcher & C.D. Spielberger (Eds.), Advances in personality assessment (Vol. 10, pp. 147–163). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Piliavin, J. A., Dovidio, J. F., Gaertner, S. L., & Clark, R. D., III (1981). Emergency intervention . New York, NY: Academic Press.
Trivers, R. (1971). The evolution of reciprocal altruism. Quarterly Review of Biology, 46 , 35–57.
Wood, W., & Eagly, A. H. (2002). A cross-cultural analysis of the behavior of women and men: Implications for the origins of sex differences. Psychological Bulletin, 128 , 699–727.
HeroicImaginationTV (2012, May 13). The bystander effect: The death of Kitty Genovese. (Video). YouTube. https://youtu.be/BdpdUbW8vbw
Keenermarc. (n.d.). Bystander effect: People watch girl being abducted. (Video). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIvGIwLcIuw&feature=youtu.be
Latané, B., and Darley, J. M. (1968). Group inhibition of bystander intervention in emergencies. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 10, 215–221. doi:10.1037/h0026570
Michael (2007, November 25). Kitty Genovese: What really happened? The Psych Files. http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2007/11/episode-36-the-myth-of-the-kitty-genovese-story/
Sommers, S. (2013, February 28) Mass emails and mass apathy. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/science-small-talk/201302/mass-emails-and- mass-apathy

The phenomenon whereby people intervene to help others in need even if the other is a complete stranger and the intervention puts the helper at risk.

Prosocial acts that typically involve situations in which one person is in need and another provides the necessary assistance to eliminate the other’s need.

Relying on the actions of others to define an ambiguous need situation and to then erroneously conclude that no help or intervention is necessary.

When deciding whether to help a person in need, knowing that there are others who could also provide assistance relieves bystanders of some measure of personal responsibility, reducing the likelihood that bystanders will intervene.

A decision-making process that compares the cost of an action or thing against the expected benefit to help determine the best course of action.

A core personality trait that includes such dispositional characteristics as being sympathetic, generous, forgiving, and helpful, and behavioral tendencies toward harmonious social relations and likeability.

A measure of individual differences that identifies two sets of personality characteristics (other-oriented empathy, helpfulness) that are highly correlated with prosocial behavior.

A component of the prosocial personality orientation; describes individuals who have a strong sense of social responsibility, empathize with and feel emotionally tied to those in need, understand the problems the victim is experiencing, and have a heightened sense of moral obligations to be helpful.

A component of the prosocial personality orientation; describes individuals who have been helpful in the past and, because they believe they can be effective with the help they give, are more likely to be helpful in the future.

According to evolutionary psychology, the favoritism shown for helping our blood relatives, with the goals of increasing the likelihood that some portion of our DNA will be passed on to future generations.

According to evolutionary psychology, a genetic predisposition for people to help those who have previously helped them.

An egoistic theory proposed by Cialdini et al. (1982) that claims that people have learned through socialization that helping can serve as a secondary reinforcement that will relieve negative moods such as sadness.

An egoistic theory proposed by Piliavin et al. (1981) that claims that seeing a person in need leads to the arousal of unpleasant feelings, and observers are motivated to eliminate that aversive state, often by helping the victim. A cost–reward analysis may lead observers to react in ways other than offering direct assistance, including indirect help, reinterpretation of the situation, or fleeing the scene.

A motivation for helping that has the improvement of the helper’s own circumstances as its primary goal.

A motivation for helping that has the improvement of another’s welfare as its ultimate goal, with no expectation of any benefits for the helper.

An altruistic theory proposed by Batson (2011) that claims that people who put themselves in the shoes of a victim and imagining how the victim feel will experience empathic concern that evokes an altruistic motivation for helping.

According to Batson’s empathy–altruism hypothesis, observers who empathize with a person in need (that is, put themselves in the shoes of the victim and imagine how that person feels) will experience empathic concern and have an altruistic motivation for helping.

According to Batson’s empathy–altruism hypothesis, observers who take a detached view of a person in need will experience feelings of being “worried” and “upset” and will have an egoistic motivation for helping to relieve that distress.

Share This Book

Browse Content

Helping and Prosocial Behavior

Truman State University, University of Arkansas

Bystander intervention
Prosocial behavior
Learning Objectives
Learn which situational and social factors affect when a bystander will help another in need.
Understand which personality and individual difference factors make some people more likely to help than others.
Discover whether we help others out of a sense of altruistic concern for the victim, for more self-centered and egoistic motives, or both.

Introduction

When Do People Help?

To answer the question regarding when people help, researchers have focused on

how bystanders come to define emergencies,
when they decide to take responsibility for helping , and
how the costs and benefits of intervening affect their decisions of whether to help.

Defining the situation: The role of pluralistic ignorance

Do I have to be the one to help?: Diffusion of responsibility

The costs and rewards of helping

Who are more helpful—men or women?

A trait for being helpful: Agreeableness

Searching for the prosocial personality

Evolutionary roots for prosocial behavior

Egoistic motivation for helping

Altruistic help

A woman stops on the sidewalk to offer food to a man holding a sign reading

Outside Resources

Discussion Questions
Pluralistic ignorance suggests that inactions by other observers of an emergency will decrease the likelihood that help will be given. What do you think will happen if even one other observer begins to offer assistance to a victim?
In addition to those mentioned in the module, what other costs and rewards might affect a potential helper’s decision of whether to help? Receiving help to solve some problem is an obvious benefit for someone in need; are there any costs that a person might have to bear as a result of receiving help from someone?
What are the characteristics possessed by your friends who are most helpful? By your friends who are least helpful? What has made your helpful friends and your unhelpful friends so different? What kinds of help have they given to you, and what kind of help have you given to them? Are you a helpful person?
Do you think that sex and gender differences in the frequency of helping and the kinds of helping have changed over time? Why? Do you think that we might expect more changes in the future?
What do you think is the primary motive for helping behavior: egoism or altruism? Are there any professions in which people are being “pure” altruists, or are some egoistic motivations always playing a role?
There are other prosocial behaviors in addition to the kind of helping discussed here. People volunteer to serve many different causes and organizations. People come together to cooperate with one another to achieve goals that no one individual could reach alone. How do you think the factors that affect helping might affect prosocial actions such as volunteering and cooperating? Do you think that there might be other factors that make people more or less likely to volunteer their time and energy or to cooperate in a group?
Batson, C. D. (2011). Altruism in humans . New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Becker, S. W., & Eagly, A. H. (2004). The heroism of women and men. American Psychologist, 59 , 163–178.
Burnstein, E., Crandall, C., & Kitayama, S. (1994). Some neo-Darwinian decision rules for altruism: Weighing cues for inclusive fitness as a function of the biological importance of the decision. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67 , 773–789.
Buss, D. M. (2004). Evolutionary psychology: The new science of the mind . Boston, MA: Allyn Bacon.
Cialdini, R. B., & Kenrick, D. T. (1976). Altruism as hedonism: A social developmental perspective on the relationship of negative mood state and helping. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 34 , 907–914.
Cialdini, R. B., Darby, B. K. & Vincent, J. E. (1973). Transgression and altruism: A case for hedonism. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 9 , 502–516.
Cialdini, R. B., Kenrick, D. T., & Baumann, D. J. (1982). Effects of mood on prosocial behavior in children and adults. In N. Eisenberg (Ed.), The development of prosocial behavior (pp. 339–359). New York, NY: Academic Press.
Costa, P. T., & McCrae, R. R. (1998). Trait theories in personality. In D. F. Barone, M. Hersen, & V. B. Van Hasselt (Eds.), Advanced Personality (pp. 103–121). New York, NY: Plenum.
Darley, J. M. & Latané, B. (1968). Bystander intervention in emergencies: Diffusion of responsibility. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 8 , 377–383.
Dawkins, R. (1976). The selfish gene . Oxford, U.K.: Oxford University Press.
Diekman, A. B., & Eagly, A. H. (2000). Stereotypes as dynamic structures: Women and men of the past, present, and future. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 26 , 1171–1188.
Dovidio, J. F., Piliavin, J. A., Schroeder, D. A., & Penner, L. A. (2006). The social psychology of prosocial behavior . Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Eagly, A. H., & Crowley, M. (1986). Gender and helping behavior: A meta-analytic review of the social psychological literature. Psychological Review, 66 , 183–201.
Fisher, P., Krueger, J. I., Greitemeyer, T., Vogrincie, C., Kastenmiller, A., Frey, D., Henne, M., Wicher, M., & Kainbacher, M. (2011). The bystander-effect: A meta-analytic review of bystander intervention in dangerous and non-dangerous emergencies. Psychological Bulletin, 137 , 517–537.
Graziano, W. G., & Tobin, R. (2009). Agreeableness. In M. R. Leary & R. H. Hoyle (Eds.), Handbook of Individual Differences in Social Behavior . New York, NY: Guilford Press.
Graziano, W. G., Habashi, M. M., Sheese, B. E., & Tobin, R. M. (2007). Agreeableness, empathy, and helping: A person x situation perspective. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 93 , 583–599.
Hamilton, W. D. (1964). The genetic evolution of social behavior. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 7 , 1–52.
Latané, B., & Darley, J. M. (1970). The unresponsive bystander: Why doesn’t he help? New York, NY: Appleton-Century-Crofts.
Penner, L. A., & Orom, H. (2010). Enduring goodness: A Person X Situation perspective on prosocial behavior. In M. Mikuliner & P.R. Shaver, P.R. (Eds.), Prosocial motives, emotions, and behavior: The better angels of our nature (pp. 55–72). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Penner, L. A., Fritzsche, B. A., Craiger, J. P., & Freifeld, T. R. (1995). Measuring the prosocial personality. In J. Butcher & C.D. Spielberger (Eds.), Advances in personality assessment (Vol. 10, pp. 147–163). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Piliavin, J. A., Dovidio, J. F., Gaertner, S. L., & Clark, R. D., III (1981). Emergency intervention . New York, NY: Academic Press.
Trivers, R. (1971). The evolution of reciprocal altruism. Quarterly Review of Biology, 46 , 35–57.
Wood, W., & Eagly, A. H. (2002). A cross-cultural analysis of the behavior of women and men: Implications for the origins of sex differences. Psychological Bulletin, 128 , 699–727.

Creative Commons License

How to cite this Noba module using APA Style

Forgot your password?

Greater Good Science Center • Magazine • In Action • In Education

Workplace Articles & More

When you should help your coworkers—and when to think twice, research offers some guidance on how to be more helpful at work—for everyone’s benefit..

When was the last time you helped a colleague at work?

Helping in the workplace can take various forms—for example, training an intern, comforting a colleague in distress, or taking on extra work to complete a team project.

If your organization has a competitive work culture—or if you’re anything like the 35 percent of working Americans who feel overwhelmed by their workload—helping others in the workplace may not be at the top of your priority list. However, research suggests that more helpful workplaces actually perform better; they produce better-quality products and have increased sales . And helping others at work feels good.

If you can’t recall the last time you lent a hand to a coworker, the three questions below may help you start thinking about your interactions at work and how you could be of more service to others in the workplace.

1. When are you most likely to help others at work?

Are you more likely to help when a colleague asks you for help (called reactive helping) or when you perceive the need for help without being asked (proactive helping)?

Surprisingly, proactive helping can sometimes be problematic. A recent study surveyed 51 employees from diverse industries on their proactive and reactive helping behaviors. They rated how much they helped coworkers make progress, deal with problems, or avoid potential problems either without being asked or when their coworkers explicitly requested help.

The study found that when people engaged in reactive helping—helping when asked—they received more gratitude. In turn, the helpers perceived that they had a greater impact and felt more engaged at work the next day. Put simply, reactive helpers felt good after helping.

But that wasn’t the case for proactive helpers. Proactive helpers didn’t receive as much gratitude, which seemed to diminish the psychological returns for them.

Even the most altruistically motivated helper wants to feel good about the contribution they’re making, and the good feelings we get from reactive helping will encourage us to help in the future.

This doesn’t mean we should never offer proactive help—but it has to be done carefully. Rather than jumping in and fixing something, you can help a colleague come up with their own solutions. Even better, you can encourage reactive helping by communicating to colleagues that you’re willing to help if needed, increasing the likelihood that they will ask for help directly.

2. Why do you help others at work?

Motivation is a key driving force of behavior. The first step in understanding how you help others is to get clear on what motivates you.

A 2014 study provides some insight on why motives matter. The study surveyed 174 professionals, from diverse industries, about their helping behaviors in the workplace. Respondents were asked about how much they helped fellow colleagues by sharing work-related knowledge, helping with work problems, explaining a regulation or procedure, or helping a colleague after they were absent.

They found that how much people helped depended on their motivation. Individuals who reported altruistic motives—based on personal values or a desire to contribute to the team—helped more than employees who reported helping others under specific conditions (if it wouldn’t interfere with their work, the person asking for help was perceived to be worthy, or they had the knowledge and skills to help).

Ask for Help at Work

Overcome your reluctance and discover how kind other people are

People motivated by altruism are less concerned with their reputation and status when helping others. They help because they believe it’s the right thing to do, even if there’s a personal cost in doing so, like lost time.

If your reasons for helping others in the past have been less altruistic, be on the lookout for the next opportunity to support your work team. Then, try focusing more on making a meaningful contribution to the group and less on the benefits you hope to gain. It will take some pressure off of you, and chances are you’ll be appreciated anyway (because your helping signals to the group your motivation to contribute to the common good ).

3. Whom do you tend to help at work?

Think back to the last several people you helped at work. Who were they?

Chances are they shared many characteristics with you, like race, gender, or socioeconomic status. Research shows that homophily, the tendency to connect to people who are similar to us, structures our social networks at work. As a result, your helping may be restricted to a homogenous group of work colleagues, limiting your efforts.

In fact, research suggests that people are less helpful in more diverse work groups. A 2009 study of 1,762 employees from a large electronics company in Korea, representing 96 separate work units, found that in more diverse groups (in terms of gender and education), respondents observed fewer of the following behaviors among coworkers: 1) going out of their way to help others with work problems, 2) showing genuine concern and courtesy toward others, and 3) voluntarily helping new employees settle into the job.

In addition to homophily, this pattern is likely linked to intergroup bias , as well. Intergroup bias causes us to subconsciously evaluate those who are similar to us more favorably than those who are not—for example, when determining the perceived worthiness of someone who needs our help. Or when deciding who is trustworthy, which also greatly impacts our likeliness to help others.

One way to break this subconscious pattern is to expand your work network to be inclusive of those who are different from you and to be cognizant of your personal biases that may come into play when making decisions at work. Practicing mindfulness is a good starting point.

While many efforts to boost workplace productivity today focus on increasing employee satisfaction and well-being, helping merits more attention. Helping could be the missing link that explains why employees in a better mood perform better— happier employees are more likely to help others, and workplaces with helping cultures see better employee performance . And who wouldn’t want to work in a happy, helpful, and productive workplace?

About the Author

Shanna B. Tiayon

Shanna B. Tiayon, Ph.D. , also known as “The Wellbeing Dr.,” is a writer, speaker, and trainer working in the area of well-being. Currently, Shanna is the owner of WellbeingWorks , LLC, a boutique well-being firm bringing together the best interdisciplinary knowledge in the areas of social psychology, human resources, research, and training design.

You May Also Enjoy

This article — and everything on this site — is funded by readers like you.

Become a subscribing member today. Help us continue to bring “the science of a meaningful life” to you and to millions around the globe.

Home / Essay Samples / Life / Hobby / Helping Others

Helping Others Essay Examples

Arguments of why charity is essential for society.

To start with, in charity essay this topic is briefly discussed by an author. There are strong evidences that show donations or contributions have persisted across the stages of human species evolution. Since the beginning of time the world has become unequal in all aspects...

Empowering the Disabled Person: Extending a Helping Hand

Helping a disabled person involves a combination of empathy, understanding, and practical assistance. One of the fundamental ways to offer support is through education and awareness. By educating ourselves and others about different types of disabilities and their unique challenges, we can foster a more...

The Undeniable Value of Community Service

Community service refers to voluntary work that individuals or groups undertake to improve the well-being of their local community. It is a selfless act of giving back and supporting others without expecting anything in return. Community service plays a vital role in society, benefiting both...

Personal Experience of Helping Someone: What Drives Me to Do This

My task for this paper was to 'narrate your personal experience of helping someone', that is the main topic for this paper. Here my personal experience of helping will be introduced. Then, the motivations of helping and the reason why I would be the only...

The Multidimensional Nature of Help

The Oxford dictionary defines "help" as, a verb to which a person can, "Make it easier or possible for (someone) to do something by offering them one's services or resources." I believe that help in itself, is much more multi-dimensional. Help comes in many forms...

Pursuit of Happiness: Understanding and Helping

As of 2018, there are more than seven and a half billion people living on this Earth (World Development Indicators). Each one started out as a newborn baby, innocent and fresh. They had no perspectives, no opinions, and no experience. They were all bright-eyed bundles...

The Reasons of My Interest in Helping Others

I was around nine when my parents first took me back to Vietnam for the summer after moving to America. One of the first things they did after we landed, was take me to volunteer at a nearby orphanage for kids that were still suffering...

Why My Purpose in Life is to Help Others

Happiness starts from the moment you do something for others. Those who always help others, are happy and do not come across any hurdle in their lives. Research shows that they are less worried and experience better mental health. So let`s research why people help...

Benefits of Helping Others

Volunteering has been around for centuries and is considered a good deed that is seen as desirable by others. It has been made into a requirement by certain educational institutions to complete a certain amount of volunteer hours. Some view this forced requirement as not...

My Future in Helping People

Your dream can be your future. Since a child, I’ve had a dream to make people’s lives brighter and take care of them; which is why I want to be a doctor in my future. I also have reasons for making becoming docs my goal...

Trying to find an excellent essay sample but no results?

Don’t waste your time and get a professional writer to help!

11 Best Written Essays on Helping Others in Life-Need & Importance

1. Essay on Helping Others in Life |Need, and Importance of Helping others in Life

2. Essay on helping others is Important:

3. Short Essay on Helping Others:

4. Short Essay on Motivation for helping others:

5. College essay on helping others:

6. Essay on Kindness to others:

7. Inspirational Story on helping others:

8. Essay on helping hand:

9. Short Essay on how helping others benefit you:

10. Short Essay on Satisfaction Comes from Helping Others:

11. Short Essay on My Greatest Passion is Helping others:

Related Posts:

Reader Interactions

Essay on Helping Others in Life

I. Personal Development

II. Benefits to Mental Health

III. Impact on Society

what are the ways of helping others

The Significance of Helping Others: A Comprehensive Exploration

Conclusion:

My Passion in Life: A Journey of Helping Others

speech on helping others

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Essay About Helping Others. Always Do Good

About Stanford GSB

About the Experience

Full-Time Degree Programs

Non-Degree & Certificate Programs

Faculty Research

Research Hub

Research Labs

Research Initiatives

Welcome, Alumni

Admission Events & Information Sessions

Francis Flynn: What Makes People Want to Help Others?

Explore More

My Motivation to Helping Others

Works Cited:

Cite this Essay

Related Essays

Still can’t find what you need?

Related Essays on Helping Others

Related Topics

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

Search form

Asking for help is hard, but people want to help more than we realize, Stanford scholar says

10 Keys to Happier Living

Do kind things for others

Every act of kindness counts

Helping others can boost happiness in many ways

Everyone needs kindness

Create kindness ripples

Ask for help when you need it

Balancing your own needs and those of others

Sustainable giving

The 10 Keys

Our Daily Action - 1

Download the FREE Action for Happiness app for iOS or Android

The Social Psychology Perspectives On Helping Others

Why do people help?

Extrinsic motivators

Why do people not help?

2 Responses

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

6 – Helping and Prosocial Behavior

When Do People Help?

Defining the situation: The role of pluralistic ignorance

Do I have to be the one to help?: Diffusion of responsibility

The costs and rewards of helping

Who are more helpful—men or women?

A trait for being helpful: Agreeableness

Searching for the prosocial personality

Evolutionary roots for prosocial behavior

Egoistic motivation for helping

Altruistic help

Reflection/Discussion

Helping and Prosocial Behavior Resources

Outside Resources

Share This Book