The role of autonomy support and autonomy orientation in the internalization of autonomous regulation for prosocial behavior

The present research was intended to test a model delineating the processes through which prosocial behavior is motivated. Self-determination theory offers a framework that explains the process of self-regulation through autonomous motivation. This model predicted that autonomy orientation and autonomy support would facilitate the adoption of autonomous motivation for prosocial behavior. Need satisfaction was predicted to mediate the effects of autonomy support. Autonomous motivation was in turn predicted to affect engagement in prosocial behavior. The results of a pilot study, where college students were asked to report on their motives for engaging in a series of prosocial activities, supported the model. Study 1 intended to extend the results of the pilot study by including measurements of quality and actual behavioral engagement in volunteering behavior. Volunteers at an animal shelter completed questionnaires on 2 separate occasions. Results supported a model whereby autonomy orientation and autonomy support influenced autonomous motivation, and where need satisfaction mediated the effects of autonomy support. These processes in turn influenced the quality and quantity of engagement in volunteering work. Autonomy support was also found to influence the likelihood of the volunteers quitting their work. In Study 2, autonomy-supportive and controlling feedback about helping someone in need were manipulated to examine their effects on the likelihood of subsequently engaging in helping behavior. Autonomy-supportive feedback was expected to facilitate subsequent helping behavior, relative to controlling feedback. Results did not support this hypothesis, but additional analyses demonstrated that there was a relation between participants' autonomous feelings regarding their helping behavior and the likelihood of subsequently helping an individual in need. Thus, a better calibrated feedback manipulation might lead to the support of the hypothesis. Implications for programs intending to foster prosocial behavior and for future research on the motivation for prosocial behavior are discussed.