Belief in altruistic human nature and prosocial behavior: a serial mediation analysis

Abstract

According to the theory of internal working model, belief in altruistic human nature positively influences prosocial behavior. However, the precise influencing mechanism remains unclear. Based on the determinants of human behavior theory and self-efficacy theory, we hypothesized that belief in altruistic human nature indirectly influences prosocial behavior through causally linked multiple mediators of prosocial attitude and prosocial self-efficacy. The results of the current research supported our hypothesis and demonstrated that this serial mediation model could be generalized across individualistic and collectivistic cultures.

Keywords:

• belief in altruistic human nature
• prosocial attitude
• prosocial self-efficacy
• prosocial behavior
• serial mediation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.