Publication
Threat-induced prosocial behavior: enhanced exogenous attention to protect others from harm
In a new study, we found that when we are exposed to potential harm to the other person, it improves our automatic attentional processes to avoid harm to that person.
- Author
- Maria Lojowska
- Date
- 15 July 2024
- Links
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-66787-3
When exposed to potential harm, we show evolutionarily preserved defensive responses, such as arousal, that prepares our body to avoid danger. These responses are often accompanied by automatic cognitive adaptations, including facilitated perception and attention, which help in detecting and timely avoidance of threats.
Our research shows that similar autonomic and cognitive adaptations occur when we are exposed to potential harm to the other. Participants demonstrated improved attention allowing them to avoid potential shocks to the other, anonymous person in the lab. This finding is particularly interesting because the majority of studies so far have demonstrated that humans engage in prosocial behavior through deliberate processes. Our study indicates that prosocial tendencies can also trigger automatic attentional processes, which may be relevant for providing immediate help without relying on deliberate, reflexive processes.