Prosociality and the Brain: Understanding When and Why We Help, Share, and Cooperate

Are humans naturally inclined to help others, or are we more focused on ourselves? How does the brain decide whether to put someone else’s needs ahead of our own? Helping, sharing, and cooperating are key human behaviors that have shaped societies and allowed civilizations to thrive. These prosocial actions often involve giving up something—like time, effort, or resources—to benefit others. Despite the personal cost, prosocial actions play a crucial role in building relationships, improving well-being and health, and tackling global challenges like climate change. Prosocial behavior is a complex concept with many layers. Researchers from psychology, neuroscience, economics, and other fields use a range of tools and methods to study it. This chapter explores human prosociality in several ways. It looks at how researchers measure prosocial behavior, examines the brain regions involved in making prosocial decisions, and discusses the factors that influence when and why people act in prosocial ways. Specifically, it outlines how environmental influences like stress and culture, along with individual differences such as age and genetics, shape prosocial behaviors. Finally, the chapter explores exciting trends and future directions in research, helping us better understand what drives humans to care for one another.