Prosocial Agency: The Contribution of Values and Self–Efficacy Beliefs to Prosocial Behavior Across Ages

A number of findings attest to the positive influence that prosocial behavior, namely people's tendency to act voluntarily to benefit others, exerts on individual functioning and interpersonal transactions. A large sample from the Italian population belonging to six age groups participated in the study and filled out self–report questionnaires aimed at evaluating personal efficacy beliefs, values, and prosocial behavior. The present study examined a conceptual model in which self–efficacy beliefs and self–transcendence values—benevolence and universalism—operate in concert to promote prosocial behavior. The posited model accounted for a notable portion of the variance of prosocial behavior, ranging from 41% to 70% in both genders. Findings attest to the effects that self–transcendence values exert on prosocial behavior either directly, or indirectly through self–efficacy beliefs, in regulating affect and in managing interpersonal relationships.