Draft:ProSocial World

ProSocial World is a registered U.S. based 501c3 nonprofit with a vision of consciously evolving a world that works for all[1]. ProSocial's belief is that to catalyze rapid, positive cultural change we need to recognize our interconnectedness and continuously improve the relationships we have with ourselves, each other and the planet[2].

Co-Founded in 2020 by biologist David Sloan Wilson and organizational psychologist Paul Atkins, ProSocial uses a scientific framework aimed at helping groups become more cooperative, adaptable, and resilient[3]. Their approach incorporates three different scientific disciplines and perspectives that have not previously been combined: evolutionary science, contextual behavioral science, and Elinor Ostrom’s Nobel prize-winning work on community development and the commons. Combined, these sciences constitute an integrated methodology aimed at continuous social improvement[4][5]

One key aspect of the ProSocial framework is the integration of Elinor Ostrom's core principles, initially designed for groups that were attempting to manage common-pool resources[6].

The eight core design principles include:

  1. Strong group identity and understanding of purpose.
  2. Fair distribution of costs and benefits.
  3. Fair and inclusive decision-making.
  4. Monitoring agreed-upon behaviors.
  5. Graduated sanctions for misbehaviors.
  6. Fast and fair conflict resolution.
  7. Authority to self-govern.
  8. Appropriate relations with other groups.

In 2009, Ostrom became the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences because of the development of this wisdom[7]. Soon after this, ProSocial World co-founder David Sloan Wilson began to work with Elinor Ostom and Michael Cox to generalize the core design principles[8]. Together, they expanded the original model to also highlight the basic evolutionary dynamics of cooperation.

References

edit
  1. ^ https://www.guidestar.org/profile/85-2965721
  2. ^ https://www.prosocial.world/about
  3. ^ Atkins, P. W.B., Wilson, D. S., and Hayes, S.C. (2019). Prosocial: Using Evolutionary Science to Build Productive, Equitable, and Collaborative Groups. Oakland, CA: Context Press.
  4. ^ https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-70632-8
  5. ^ https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2218222120
  6. ^ Ostrom E. Governing the Commons: The Evolution of Institutions for Collective Action New York: Cambridge University Press; 1990. DOI: 10.1017/CBO9780511807763
  7. ^ https://www.theguardian.com/science/2009/oct/12/nobel-economics-prize-elinor-ostrom
  8. ^ Generalizing the core design principles for the efficacy of groups https://www.martinwilks.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Generalizing-the-Core.pdf