Abstract :
The present study aimed to examine the impact of exposure to online acts of kindness on altruistic behavior and to investigate the role of psychological capital in predicting altruistic tendencies among participants. The study was grounded in the frameworks of positive psychology and social learning theory, which suggest that positive emotional experiences and observational learning can influence prosocial behavior (Bandura, 1977; Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000). A quantitative pre-test and post-test research design was used to assess changes in altruistic behavior following exposure to kindness-based online content. Psychological capital, consisting of hope, resilience, optimism and self-efficacy, was also examined as a predictor of altruistic behavior. Data were collected from participants using standardized self-report measures assessing altruistic behavior and psychological capital. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and regression analysis were conducted using SPSS to analyze the data. The findings indicated a slight increase in altruistic behavior after exposure to online acts of kindness, with mean altruism scores increasing from pre-test (M = 75.95, SD = 11.69) to post-test (M = 76.64, SD = 16.01). Correlation analyses revealed a strong positive relationship between psychological capital and altruistic behavior at pre-test (r = .778, p < .001) and a moderate positive relationship at post-test (r = .478, p = .001). Regression analyses further demonstrated that psychological capital significantly predicted altruistic behavior, accounting for 61% of the variance in pre-test altruism (R² = .605) and 23% of the variance in post-test altruism (R² = .229). The findings suggest that exposure to online acts of kindness may positively influence altruistic tendencies, while psychological capital plays a significant role in promoting prosocial behavior. Individuals with higher levels of optimism, resilience, hope and self-efficacy were more likely to demonstrate altruistic behavior and respond positively to kindness-based content. The study highlights the constructive role of digital media in encouraging empathy and pro sociality and emphasizes the importance of psychological strengths in shaping social behavior. Despite certain limitations, the research contributes to the growing literature on positive psychology, digital media influence and altruistic behavior.