Integrating prosocial and proenvironmental behaviors: the role of moral disengagement and peer social norms

Prosocial behaviors, and more recently, proenvironmental behaviors, have been proposed as two dimensions of an overarching disposition towards the common good. Both behaviors imply a moral dimension and are influenced by the social contexts in which they unfold. In the present study we test these as...

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Main Authors: Christian Berger, Ana Andaur
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: UCOPress 2022-11-01
Series:Psychology, Society & Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.uco.es/psye/article/view/15113
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author Christian Berger
Ana Andaur
author_facet Christian Berger
Ana Andaur
author_sort Christian Berger
collection DOAJ
description Prosocial behaviors, and more recently, proenvironmental behaviors, have been proposed as two dimensions of an overarching disposition towards the common good. Both behaviors imply a moral dimension and are influenced by the social contexts in which they unfold. In the present study we test these associations, assessing the effect of moral disengagement and peer social norms on prosocial and proenvironmental behaviors. We analyzed the first data wave of an ongoing longitudinal study including 704 Chilean adolescents (301 male, 378 female and 25 do not answer; from 6th to 10th graders). Structural Equation Models showed that prosocial and proenvironmental behaviors were significantly associated with each other, and both with moral disengagement. Direct and cross effects of peer social norms were found for prosocial and proenvironmental behaviors. Moreover, peer social norms on proenvironmental behavior moderated the association between moral disengagement and individual proenvironmental behavior, but the same moderation effect for prosocial norms was not observed. These results highlight the moral nature of prosocial and proenvironmental behaviors and the relevant role that peers have in promoting these behaviors. Results are further discussed regarding their educational and developmental implications.
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spelling doaj.art-8d60b42a29de423d8da4bda7b0e046022023-10-25T07:29:09ZengUCOPressPsychology, Society & Education1989-709X2022-11-0114310.21071/psye.v14i3.15113Integrating prosocial and proenvironmental behaviors: the role of moral disengagement and peer social normsChristian Berger0Ana Andaur1Pontificia Universidad CatólicaPontificia Universidad CatólicaProsocial behaviors, and more recently, proenvironmental behaviors, have been proposed as two dimensions of an overarching disposition towards the common good. Both behaviors imply a moral dimension and are influenced by the social contexts in which they unfold. In the present study we test these associations, assessing the effect of moral disengagement and peer social norms on prosocial and proenvironmental behaviors. We analyzed the first data wave of an ongoing longitudinal study including 704 Chilean adolescents (301 male, 378 female and 25 do not answer; from 6th to 10th graders). Structural Equation Models showed that prosocial and proenvironmental behaviors were significantly associated with each other, and both with moral disengagement. Direct and cross effects of peer social norms were found for prosocial and proenvironmental behaviors. Moreover, peer social norms on proenvironmental behavior moderated the association between moral disengagement and individual proenvironmental behavior, but the same moderation effect for prosocial norms was not observed. These results highlight the moral nature of prosocial and proenvironmental behaviors and the relevant role that peers have in promoting these behaviors. Results are further discussed regarding their educational and developmental implications. https://journals.uco.es/psye/article/view/15113ProsocialProenvironmentalMoral disengagementSocial norms
spellingShingle Christian Berger
Ana Andaur
Integrating prosocial and proenvironmental behaviors: the role of moral disengagement and peer social norms
Psychology, Society & Education
Prosocial
Proenvironmental
Moral disengagement
Social norms
title Integrating prosocial and proenvironmental behaviors: the role of moral disengagement and peer social norms
title_full Integrating prosocial and proenvironmental behaviors: the role of moral disengagement and peer social norms
title_fullStr Integrating prosocial and proenvironmental behaviors: the role of moral disengagement and peer social norms
title_full_unstemmed Integrating prosocial and proenvironmental behaviors: the role of moral disengagement and peer social norms
title_short Integrating prosocial and proenvironmental behaviors: the role of moral disengagement and peer social norms
title_sort integrating prosocial and proenvironmental behaviors the role of moral disengagement and peer social norms
topic Prosocial
Proenvironmental
Moral disengagement
Social norms
url https://journals.uco.es/psye/article/view/15113
work_keys_str_mv AT christianberger integratingprosocialandproenvironmentalbehaviorstheroleofmoraldisengagementandpeersocialnorms
AT anaandaur integratingprosocialandproenvironmentalbehaviorstheroleofmoraldisengagementandpeersocialnorms