1
Benchmark – Social Psychology - Selecting a Research Paper Topic (Obj. 1.1, 1.3, & 1.4)
Grand Canyon University
PSY 530: Social and Cultural Psychology
2
For my proposed research paper, I have chosen the topic of what motivates people to help
others. More specifically, my research question is, “How do personality traits like agreeableness
and conscientiousness relate to prosocial behavior?”. Considering the bystander effect, I have
often wondered what motivates people to react and speak out for the benefit of others when
many people do not pay any mind and continue about their lives. Unfortunately, the mass
majority often ignore a situation rather than intervene. Social influence factors, including peer,
school, and parent influence, are strong predictors of helping intention and prosocial behavior,
while individual competence factors like empathy and prosocial moral reasoning are not (Lai et
al., 2015). Youth development, satisfaction with personal achievement, social competence, and
subjective well-being also contribute to prosocial behaviors.
Benchmark – Social Psychology - Selecting a Research Paper Topic (Obj. 1.1, 1.3, & 1.4)
Grand Canyon University
PSY 530: Social and Cultural Psychology
2
For my proposed research paper, I have chosen the topic of what motivates people to help
others. More specifically, my research question is, “How do personality traits like agreeableness
and conscientiousness relate to prosocial behavior?”. Considering the bystander effect, I have
often wondered what motivates people to react and speak out for the benefit of others when
many people do not pay any mind and continue about their lives. Unfortunately, the mass
majority often ignore a situation rather than intervene. Social influence factors, including peer,
school, and parent influence, are strong predictors of helping intention and prosocial behavior,
while individual competence factors like empathy and prosocial moral reasoning are not (Lai et
al., 2015). Youth development, satisfaction with personal achievement, social competence, and
subjective well-being also contribute to prosocial behaviors.
