A recent study by the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania found that policymakers are more likely to support “prosocial” policies, like syringe service programs, when they see altruistic behaviors in their communities.

Using a unique approach, the researchers looked at how prosocial behaviors spread between authorities and citizens. They discovered that communities can positively influence their leaders, benefiting the public good.

Community norms

This research explores the link between community norms and the actions of leaders. Do community attitudes shape the policies that leaders support, or do leaders influence their communities? While both effects exist, the study shows that constituents have a strong influence on policymakers’ support for addressing the substance-use crisis.

The researchers conducted two studies on responses to the opioid epidemic: a field study of residents and authorities in 79 U.S. counties, and an experiment. They asked whether prosocial actions by leaders inspire similar behaviors in the community, or if the influence works from the bottom up.

They also examined why prosocial behavior spreads, considering factors like pressure to conform, responsibility for community issues, self-efficacy, and optimism about improvement.

In the field study, 1,338 organizations from various sectors (e.g., health organizations, drug coalitions, religious institutions) were invited to join a project to fight the opioid epidemic. At the same time, 828 residents were surveyed about community and authority cooperation.

A positive link

The study found a positive link between leaders’ willingness to participate and community cooperation, indicating that prosocial communities lead to prosocial policies from their leaders.

In the experiment, 804 participants imagined a community facing a health crisis and took on the role of either a leader or a community member. Leaders read about prosocial or non-prosocial behaviors among community members, while members read about similar behaviors among leaders.

Participants’ support for policies helping those affected by the drug crisis was assessed, along with their reasons. The study showed that leaders responded more to the prosociality of community members than the other way around, driven by optimism about solving the crisis.

“When participants imagined themselves as community leaders and saw community members engaging in prosocial responses to a health crisis, like supporting programs for vulnerable residents, they also became more willing to engage in similar actions,” the researchers noted.

“Importantly, when participants imagined being leaders, they felt more optimistic about positive changes, leading them to respond more favorably to the prosocial behaviors of community members.”