Prosociality and Well-being Lab

Below are some selected publications from lab members.

Please email Rachel Baumsteiger (rbaumsteiger@cpp.edu) for full access.

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Journal Articles​

• Baumsteiger, R., Hoffmann, J. D., Seibyl, J., Rose, B., & Brackett, M. A. (2023). A systematic review of secondary school climate assessments. Educational Psychology Review. 10.1007/s10648-023-09748-y

• Hoffmann, J. D., Baumsteiger, R., Seibyl, J., Hills, E., Bradley, C., Cipriano, C., & Brackett, M. A. (2022). Building useful, web-based educational assessment tools for students, with students: A demonstration with the school climate walkthrough. Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice. 10.1080/0969594X.2022.2056576

• Baumsteiger, R., Mangan, S., McConchie, J., & Bronk, K. C. (in press). What’s your “why?” A content analysis of youth purpose. Journal of Character Education, 1, 1-14.

• Blazek, B., Siegel, J. T., Tan, C. N., Baumsteiger, R., & Cornwell, J. F. M. (2020). Influencing organ donation attitudes, intentions, and prosocial intentions through the induction of motivational harmony. Journal of Theoretical Social Psychology, 4, 205-217.

• Mangan, S., Baumsteiger, R., & Bronk, K. C. (2020). Recommendations for positive psychology interventions in school settings. Journal of Positive Psychology, 15, 1-4.  

• Baumsteiger, R. (2019). What the world needs now: An intervention for promoting prosocial behavior. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 41, 215-229.

• Baumsteiger, R., Mangan, S., Bronk, K. C., & Bono, G. (2019). An integrative intervention for cultivating gratitude among adolescents. Journal of Positive Psychology, 14, 807-819.

• Bronk, K. C., Baumsteiger, R., Mangan, S. A., Riches, B., Dubon, V., Benavides, C., & Bono, G. (2019). Fostering purpose: Effective online interventions. Journal of Character Education, 15, 21-38.

• Baumsteiger, R., & Siegel, J. (2018). Measuring prosociality: The development of a prosocial behavioral intentions scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 101, 305-314.

• Baumsteiger, R. (2017). Looking forward to helping: The effects of retrospection and prospection on prosocial intentions and behavior. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 47, 505-514.

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Book Chapters

• Baumsteiger, R. (2024). Promoting prosocial habits. Advances in Psychology Research, 151. Nova Science Publishers.

• Hoffmann, J. D., McGarry, J. A., Baumsteiger, R., Seibyl, J., & Brackett, M. A. (2024). Emotional empowerment in high school life. In G. Misra & I. Misra (Eds.), Emotions in cultural context. Springer.

• Bronk, K. C., & Baumsteiger, R. (2019). Theories of moral development in adolescence. In D. Shek & J. T. Y. Leung (Eds.), Encyclopedia of adolescent development. Wiley Blackwell. 

• Bronk, K. C., & Baumsteiger, R. (2019). Fostering purpose to cultivate civic friendship. Virtues in the public sphere. New York, NY: Routledge Press. 

• Bronk, K. C., & Baumsteiger, R. (2017). The role of purpose in emerging adulthood. In L. M. Padilla-Walker & L. J. Nelson (Eds.), Flourishing in emerging adulthood: Positive development during the third decade of life. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

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Oral Presentations​

• Baumsteiger, R., Villanueva-Chocoy, S., & Kantawala, N. (April, 2024). What’s “good?” Testing the multidimensionality of moral identity. Paper presented at the Western Psychological Association annual conference.

• Baumsteiger, R. (April, 2024). Promoting prosocial behavior. Invited keynote talk given at the Society for Research on Adolescents preconference, “Current Research and Future Directions in Moral Development.”

• Khoury, N., Armenta, M., & Baumsteiger, R. (April, 2024). Testing the dual effects of journaling and meditation on psychological well- being. Presented at the Lowell Overton Psychology and Sociology Undergraduate Research Symposium, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA.

• Baumsteiger, R. (April, 2024). Promoting prosocial behavior. Invited keynote talk given at the Society for Research on Adolescents preconference, “Current Research and Future Directions in Moral Development.” 

• Baumsteiger, R. (October, 2023). Why prosocial behavior is self-reinforcing: The roles of awareness, emotions, agency, and identity. Paper presented at the Association for Moral Education Annual Conference.

• Cruz, J. (April, 2022). Video gaming experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Paper presented at the Lowell Overton Undergraduate Research Symposium.

• Baumsteiger, R. (July, 2023). When is helping fulfilling? Types of helping behavior and the role of identity. Paper presented at the International Positive Psychology Association World Congress on Positive Psychology, Vancouver.

• Baumsteiger, R. (July, 2023). How college professors can support students’ psychological well-being. Paper presented at the International Positive Psychology Association World Congress on Positive Psychology, Vancouver.

• Baumsteiger, R. (April, 2023). The Past Prosocial Behavior Scale: A briefer, more inclusive measure. Paper presented at the Western Psychological Association annual convention, Riverside.

• Baumsteiger, R., McGarry, J., Seibyl, J., & Hoffmann, J. D. (October, 2020). inspirED: A process for encouraging students to contribute to their school communities. Paper presented at the Association for Moral Education online conference.

• Hoffmann, J. D., McGarry, J., & Baumsteiger, R. (October, 2020). Tools for assessing and addressing adolescents’ emotional experiences at school. Workshop presented at the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), the Social & Emotional Learning (SEL) Exchange, online.

• Baumsteiger, R., & Giesemann, X. (January, 2020). Finding fulfillment through helping: Cross-cultural findings on how prosocial behavior contributes to eudaimonia. Paper presented at the Western Positive Psychology Association Conference, Claremont.

• Baumsteiger, R., & Giesemann, X. (January, 2019). How helping begets helping: Mechanisms of prosocial development. Paper presented at the Western Positive Psychology Association Conference, Claremont.

• Baumsteiger, R. (January, 2018). What’s your purpose? A mixed methods investigation of purpose content. Paper presented at the Western Positive Psychology Association Conference, Claremont.

• Baumsteiger, R. (January, 2018). Fostering habitual prosocial behavior. Symposium presented at the Western Positive Psychology Association Conference, Claremont.

• Baumsteiger, R., Mangan, S., & Bronk, K. C. (November, 2017). The validation of new interventions for fostering purpose among emerging adults. Paper presented at the Association for Moral Education Conference, St. Louis.

• Mangan, S., Baumsteiger, R., & Bronk, K. C. (November, 2017). Fostering purpose and gratitude in middle and high school students. Paper presented at the Association for Moral Education Conference, St. Louis.

• Mangan, S., & Baumsteiger, R. (December, 2016). The development of gratitude and purpose among adolescents and emerging adults. Paper presented at the Associated for Moral Education Conference, Boston.

• Bono, G., Mangan, S., & Baumsteiger, R. (July, 2016). Making great students: Testing a new curriculum designed to foster grateful thinking and purpose in life in primary and secondary education. Panel discussion presented at the International Festival of Positive Education, Dallas.

• Baumsteiger, R., Mangan, S., Riches, B., Dubon, V., & Bronk, K. C. (April, 2016). Fostering purpose in life among adolescents. Symposium presented at the Western Psychological Association Conference, Long Beach.

• Riches, B., Baumsteiger, R., Mangan, S., & Bronk, K. (November, 2014). The role of prospection in moral development. Symposium presented at the Associated for Moral Education Conference, Pasadena.

• Baumsteiger, R. (November, 2014). The efficacy of prospection interventions in promoting prosocial behavior. Paper presented at the Associated for Moral Education Conference, Pasadena.

 

Poster Presentations​​​

• Pierotti, S. L., & Baumsteiger, R. (June, 2025). Testing a brief, cost-effective prosocial intervention with college students in rural United States. Poster to be presented at the Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood Annual Conference, 2025.

• Baumsteiger, R. Bridging the gap between how students want to feel and how they actually feel in the classroom. (May, 2025). Poster to be presented at the Western Psychological Association Annual Conference, 2025.

• Baumsteiger, R., Solano, R., Rangel, K. D., Sandvik, C. G., Iskenderian, A., Piñon, L., & Khoury, N. The activist, donor, breadwinner, and “therapist friend”: An exploration of prosocial profiles. Poster to be presented at the Western Psychological Association Annual Conference, 2025.

• Kantawala, N., & Baumsteiger, R. (April, 2024). Barriers and reasons behind accessing mental healthcare. Poster presented at the Western Psychological Association annual conference.

• Khoury, N., Armenta, M., & Baumsteiger, R. (March, 2024). Paths to well-being. Poster presented at Cal Poly Pomona Student Research, Scholarship & Creative Activities Conference.

• Martinez, C., & Baumsteiger, R. (March, 2024). Well-being fluctuations within undergraduate students at Cal Poly Pomona. Poster presented at Cal Poly Pomona Student Research, Scholarship & Creative Activities Conference.

• Kantawala, N. (April, 2023) CBT for ADHD in College Students: A Comprehensive Literature review. Paper presented at the Lowell Overton 14th Research Symposium at California Polytechnic University, Pomona.                            

• Baumsteiger, R. (April, 2023). Three strategies for connecting with students. Poster presented at the Western Psychological Association annual convention, Riverside.

• Kantawala, N. (March, 2023). CBT for ADHD a Comprehensive Literature Review. Poster presented at the Research, Scholarships, and Creative Activities Conference at California Polytechnic University, Pomona.

• Cruz, J. (April, 2023). Video gaming experiences during the Covid 19 pandemic. Paper presented at the Lowell Overton Research Symposium, Pomona.

• Flores, J. (April, 2023). Latinx/a/o parents’ knowledge and perceptions of social emotional learning. Poster presented at the Western Psychological Association annual convention, Riverside.

• Santoyo Vargas, F., & Baumsteiger, R. (March, 2023). Correlation of happiness and distinct forms of prosocial behavior. Poster presented at the Cal Poly Pomona Student Research, Scholarship & Creative Activities Conference.

• Seibyl, J., Hoffmann, J. D., Baumsteiger, R., McGarry, J. A. (August, 2020). What our high schools need: A content analysis of student-led school climate improvement projects. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association annual meeting, Washington, DC.

• Baumsteiger, R., Garcia, B., Cipriano, C., Hoffmann, J., Willner, C., & Brackett, M. (January, 2020). How do teens feel at school? New directions for assessing momentary emotional experiences. Poster presented at the Western Positive Psychology Association Conference, Claremont.

• Baumsteiger, R. (May, 2018). Teaching beyond the books: How college professors can promote students’ psychological well-being. Poster presented at the Association for Psychological Sciences and Society for the Teaching of Psychology Teaching Institute Pre-conference, San Francisco.  

• Baumsteiger, R. (January, 2018). Towards a holistic conception of “the good life.” Poster presented at the Western Positive Psychology Association Conference, Claremont.

• Baumsteiger, R. (July, 2017). Beyond the feel-good-do-good phenomenon: Exploring mechanisms of prosocial behavior interventions. Poster presented at the Fifth World Congress on Positive Psychology, Montréal.

• Mangan, S., & Baumsteiger, R. (July, 2017). Fostering gratitude and purpose among adolescents: Results on a new curriculum. Poster presented at the Fifth World Congress on Positive Psychology, Montréal.

• Baumsteiger, R., Mangan, S., & Bronk, K. C. (January, 2017). Promoting prosociality among adolescents. Poster presented at the Western Positive Psychological Association Conference, Claremont.

• Mangan, S., Baumsteiger, R., & Bronk, K. C. (January, 2017). Fostering gratitude and purpose. Poster presented at the Western Positive Psychological Association Conference, Claremont.

• Baumsteiger, R. (September, 2014). How prosocial behavior contributes to meaning in life. Poster presented at the Western Positive Psychological Association Conference, Claremont.

 

Online Works

• Baumsteiger, R. (2020-2022). “Moral Minutes with Dr. B.” Videos designed to share research-based activities for helping young people to become more caring, compassionate, and connected. Distributed to educators through the inspirED newsletter. For information on inspirED, see https://www.ycei.org/inspired. Videos are available at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyEN9i4a0e-59FZ16dNLvXw.

• Baumsteiger, R., & Hoffmann, J. D. (2020). As a ‘Second Wave’ Looms, Here Are 4 Steps Schools Can Take to Boost Resiliency and Minimize Outbreaks. EdSurge [Editorial].  https://www.edsurge.com/news/2020-10-31-as-a-second-wave-looms-here-are-4-steps-schools-can-take-to-boost-resiliency-and-minimize-outbreaks.

• Baumsteiger, R. (2019). New insights into how to promote prosocial behavior. (blog post) M. Leary, S. Gabriel, & B. Pelham (Eds.), Character and context: The science of who we are and how we relate. Available at http://www.spsp.org/news-center/blog/baumsteiger-prosocial-behavior.

• Baumsteiger, R. (2019). Encouraging prosocial action in students (Lesson plan). Greater Good Science Center: Greater Good in Education. Available at https://ggie.berkeley.edu/practice/encouraging-prosocial-actions-in-students/.