The present study investigated the empathy and prosocial behavior of first-year psychology students at La Consolacion University Philippines, focusing on the causal relationship between these two variables. The researchers aimed to determine whether the level of one’s empathy has had an impact on the occurrence of prosocial behavior among their participants. Thirty participants (N = 30) were surveyed using quantitative methods, employing standardized questionnaires to gather data. Results indicated that the majority of those participants reported that their empathy towards others motivated them to offer assistance and exhibit helpful behaviors. In other words, the study proved, in accordance with the Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis, as well as other existing studies, that there is a significant relationship between empathy and prosocial behavior among first-year psychology students studying at La Consolacion University Philippines. While various factors such as the pursuit of rewards, avoidance of punishment, or personal arousal reduction may also influence altruistic behavior, heightened levels of empathy were found to positively correlate with an increased likelihood of engaging in prosocial behaviors. Thus, the study concludes that empathy plays a significant role in driving prosocial behavior among individuals, underscoring its relevance in understanding human altruism. With that, the tendency for first-year students to manifest prosocial behavior as often as occasionally suggests that there is a moderate association between empathy level and prosocial behavior. Nevertheless, it is imperative to acknowledge that the outcomes of this study lack generalizability.
Keywords: Empathy, Prosocial Actions, Prosocial Behavior, Prosocial Feelings.
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