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RESEARCH PRODUCT

A Field Experiment on Perspective-Taking, Helping, and Self-Awareness

Stefano BocaRobert A. WicklundAntonella IsgroCostanza Scaffidi Abbate

subject

Social PsychologyProsocial behaviorPerspective-takingSelf-awarenessConducta prosocialHelping behaviorContext (language use)PsychologySelf perceptionSocial psychologyApplied Psychology

description

The present field experiment examines the effect of self-awareness on adult perspective-taking and on prosocial behavior. University students at an Italian university were interviewed briefly on their campus, and for half of them self-awareness was induced by asking them to hold a mirror before their faces. In the same context they then had to choose between a postcard written in Italian and 1 written in English, to be sent to England. This led to a measure of perspective-taking, and their actual readiness to mail the postcard was taken as an index of prosocial or helping behavior. Both perspective-taking and helping behavior were boosted considerably by self-awareness.

https://doi.org/10.1207/s15324834basp2803_7