Prosocial Motivation in Organizational Behavior
Summary
Prosocial motivation refers to the intrinsic drive that compels individuals to act for the benefit of others, organisations and broader communities. Within organisational settings, this motivation underpins a range of behaviours—from volunteering for team tasks to sharing expertise and supporting colleagues under pressure. Research highlights that prosocial motivation arises from both individual dispositions, such as empathy and moral values, and situational factors, including organisational culture, leadership support and perceptions of fairness. When nurtured by inclusive climates or supportive leadership, it contributes to increased organisational citizenship behaviour, enhanced knowledge sharing and elevated employee creativity. Furthermore, prosocial motivation is linked to improved well-being, reduced turnover intentions and stronger organisational commitment. Across diverse cultural contexts, understanding how to foster and sustain prosocial motives has become critical, not only for ethical leadership and corporate social responsibility but also for driving innovation and long-term performance. Practical applications abound in designing incentive systems, embedding social support mechanisms and crafting inclusive policies that align individual purpose with organisational goals.
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Prosocial Motivation in Organizational Behavior publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in prosocial motivation in organizational behavior across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Prosocial motivation: Intrinsic desire to benefit others and contribute positively to organisational or societal welfare.
Organizational citizenship behaviour: Voluntary, extra-role actions by employees that support organisational functioning but are not formally rewarded.
Social mindfulness: Low-cost, considerate decision-making that preserves others’ options and demonstrates awareness of their needs.
Knowledge sharing: Exchange of information and expertise among individuals or teams to facilitate learning and innovation.
References
- Social mindfulness and the SoMi Paradigm: A decade of research on low-cost prosociality. European Review of Social Psychology (2025).
- Receiving Social Support Motivates Long-Term Prosocial Behavior. Journal of Business Ethics (2024).
- Lending a Helping Hand at Work: A Multilevel Investigation of Prosocial Motivation, Inclusive Climate and Inclusive Behavior. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation (2016).
- Impact of Prosocial Motivation on Organizational Citizenship Behavior and Organizational Commitment: The Mediating Role of Managerial Support. European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education (2021).
- Influence of Prosocial Motivation on Employee Creativity: The Moderating Role of Regulatory Focus and the Mediating Role of Knowledge Sharing. Frontiers in Psychology (2021).
- Untying the Text: Organizational Prosociality and Kindness. Behavioral Sciences (2023).
About these summaries
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