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

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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

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