Module 11: Why People are Good
Cooperation, Public domain image
Description: Despite our capacity for destruction, humans also show remarkable abilities for cooperation, altruism, and prosocial behavior. This module explores how different cultures promote and sustain positive social interactions. We examine universal patterns in human cooperation while investigating how different societies encourage prosocial behavior.
Module Learning Objectives: By the end of this module students will be able to…
- MLO1: Evaluate cultural variations in prosocial behavior. (CLO2)
- MLO2: Apply concepts of positive psychology across cultures. (CLO4)
- MLO3: Compare relationship patterns across cultures. (CLO3)
Why This Module Is Important: Understanding human cooperation and prosocial behavior is essential for building positive relationships across cultures. Community organizers use this knowledge to promote collaboration between diverse groups. International aid organizations apply these insights to build trust across cultural boundaries. Business leaders use this understanding to foster teamwork in multinational companies, while educators apply it to create supportive multicultural learning environments. This knowledge helps you promote positive interactions across cultural differences.
The readings for this Module come from:
Section 12.7 (Prosocial Behavior) in Psychology 2e by Openstax, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Chapter 8 (Family & Marriage) in Perspectives: An Open Introduction to Cultural Anthropology by the Society for Anthropology in Community Colleges, licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.