Universal Journal of Psychology Vol. 2(2), pp. 47 - 58
DOI: 10.13189/ujp.2014.020201
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Social Work Design and Prosocial Organizational Behaviors

Ayça Bülbül ^*
Department of Psychology, Gediz University, İzmir, Turkey

ABSTRACT

Prosocial behaviors are defined as acts which are performed by an individual or a group and are beneficial to other people either at the individual or group level. An act qualifies as prosocial regardless of the motivation of the agent or the fact that the act was voluntary or a role requirement. With this broad definition, prosocial behaviors in organizations constitute a less researched topic in organizational literature. Rather, it was conventionally operationalized as organizational citizenship behaviors, helping others or willingness to cooperate. In this respect, the present study is an attempt to operationalize prosocial organizational behaviors with a broader scope and aims to explore the social structure of work as an antecedent of prosocial organizational behaviors. Social aspects of work design were explored as likely antecedents of prosocial organizational behaviors. A total of 308 employees, working in white-collar jobs from various industries participated in the study. Among the antecedents tested, interaction and caring were found to contribute significantly to prosocial behaviors in organizations, while the contribution of interdependence was not found to be significant. The findings were discussed in terms of their possible individual as well as organizational outcomes.

KEYWORDS
Work Design, Prosocial Organizational Behaviors, Social Aspects of Work

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Ayça Bülbül , "Social Work Design and Prosocial Organizational Behaviors," Universal Journal of Psychology, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 47 - 58, 2014. DOI: 10.13189/ujp.2014.020201.

(b). APA Format:
Ayça Bülbül (2014). Social Work Design and Prosocial Organizational Behaviors. Universal Journal of Psychology, 2(2), 47 - 58. DOI: 10.13189/ujp.2014.020201.