Psychological Development and Education ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (6): 791-798.doi: 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2025.06.04

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The Effect of Processing Mode on Prosocial Behavior—The Roles of Social Value Orientation and Cost

LI Qiangqiang1,2, HU Gengdan2   

  1. 1. School of Educational Science, Jiangsu Second Normal University, Nanjing 210013;
    2. Department of Psychology, School of Humanities, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092
  • Published:2025-11-05

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Abstract: There is still controversy regarding whether intuitive processing or reflective processing is more effective in promoting prosocial behavior. To address this dispute, this study investigated the impact of processing mode, social value orientation, and cost on prosocial behavior through behavioral experiments. The results indicate that the relationship between processing mode and prosocial behavior needs to be explained based on the individual’s social value orientation and the cost they face. Individuals with a pro-self orientation exhibit more prosocial behavior when using intuitive processing, but only in situations with low costs. Individuals with a prosocial orientation exhibit more prosocial behavior when using deliberative processing, but only in situations with high costs. Additionally, the impact of different processing modes on prosocial behavior is not significantly different when prosocial individuals face low-cost situations or pro-self individuals face high-cost situations. The study suggests that the relationship between processing mode and prosocial behavior is complex, and understanding individual differences and behavioral costs can help explain this complexity.

Key words: prosocial behavior, intuition, reflective thinking, social value orientation, cost

CLC Number: 

  • B844
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