| dc.description.abstract | Proponents of social identity theory assert that individuals are motivated to behave in ways
consistent with the norms of the social groups in which they belong. The goal of the study
was to test the relationship between group norms, specifically residential groups and
religious groups, and prosocial behavior. The linkages between participants' degree of
identification with their current community, perceived encouragement of prosocial
behavior by the community, and self-reports of prosocial behavior were examined. Based
on previous research on social identity theory and the role of prosocial behavior norms in
religious communities (Saraglou, Pichon, Trompette, Verschueren, & Demelle, 2005;
Y ouniss, McLellan, & Yates, 1999), it was hypothesized that participants who rated
religion as more important would report higher levels of pro social behavior than
participants who rated religion as less important. It was also hypothesized that participants
who identified strongly with their community and resided in a community that supported
pro social behavior would report higher levels of pro social behavior than those who did not
identify strongly with their community and/or those whose community did not support
prosocial behavior. Women reported higher levels of prosocial behavior than did men.
There was not a significant association between the importance of religion and individual
prosocial behavior. At the bivariate level, there were significant positive correlations
among the perception that the community encouraged prosocial behavior, identification
with the community, and the individual's self-reported level of prosocial behavior. A multiple regression analysis showed that only identification with the community significantly predicted prosocial behavior, and there was no interaction between
community encouragement of prosocial behavior and identification with the community.
Explanations for findings and directions for future research are discussed. | en_US |
