Document Type
Article
Publication Title
The Journal of Positive Psychology
Abstract
Prosociality is a central topic in positive psychology. An important but under-studied distinction can be made between active and reactive expressions. We suggest that the novel construct of social mindfulness represents active rather than reactive prosociality. Across four studies (N = 2,594), including a multi-wave representative sample spanning six years, social mindfulness is found to correlate with personality traits associated with prosocial and/or antisocial behavior. We find positive associations with empathy, social value orientation, and general prosocial behavior, and negative associations with moral disengagement and narcissism. Importantly, social mindfulness emerges as an active rather than a reactive characteristic that is more strongly related to HEXACO honesty-humility (active cooperation) than to HEXACO agreeableness (reactive cooperation). The association between social mindfulness and honesty-humility was found across measures six years apart. Given the well-established link between prosociality and well-being, emphasizing social mindfulness may be a good start to promote the latter.
Pages
183-93
html
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2019.1579352
Volume
15
Issue
2
Publication Date
2020
Keywords
social mindfulness, prosocial, active cooperation, HEXACO
Disciplines
Psychology
ISSN
1743-9760
Recommended Citation
Niels J. Van Doesum, Reinout E. de Vries, Arjan A. J. Blokland, Jessica M. Hill, David M. Kuhlman, Adam W. Stivers, Joshua M. Tybur & Paul A. M. Van Lange (2020) Social mindfulness: Prosocial the active way, The Journal of Positive Psychology, 15:2, 183-193, DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2019.1579352
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