Prososialitas Efisien: Manifestasi Norma Sosial dalam Interaksi Mikro Transportasi Publik di Asia Tenggara
Keywords:
efficient prosocial behavior, social norms, micro-interactions, public transportation, naturalistic observation
Abstract
This study aims to investigate how social norms and prosocial behaviors are manifested in microinteractions in urban transit spaces in Southeast Asia. The study used a naturalistic observational qualitative approach in Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore, focusing on interactions in GrabCar, conventional taxis, and MRT modes. Data were obtained through observation records of 13 episodes of micro-interactions and analyzed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA). The research findings identify efficient prosociality as a category of data-driven analytics, rather than a new stand-alone theory. This concept refers to the specific form of helping behavior in urban transit spaces, namely fast, concise, function-oriented assistance, minimal verbal affective elaboration, and sensitive to time pressure and public space norms. The results showed that assistance in transit space emerged through greetings, brief conversations, navigational assistance, offers of photo assistance, and instrumental responses to situational needs. These findings show that the lack of verbal interaction does not necessarily reflect low social awareness, but can be a form of prosocial adaptation to the rhythm of urban mobility. This research emphasizes the role of civil inattention, social norms, and infrastructure design in shaping prosociality dynamics in contemporary public mobility spaces.
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Anna, M., Anna, T., & George, Z. (2019). Wage and tax competitiveness: The case of Hellenic shipping. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 119, 255–270.
Arminen, I. A. T., & Heino, A. S. M. (2023). Civil inattention—On the sources of relational segregation. Frontiers In Sociology, 8.
Bahamonde-birke, F. (2020). Who will bell the cat ? On the environmental and sustainability risks of electric vehicles : A rejoinder. Transportation Research Part A, 135(March), 358–360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2020.03.018
Batson, C. D., & Shaw, L. L. (2009). Evidence for Altruism: Toward a Pluralism of Prosocial Motives. Psychological Inquiry, 107–122. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327965pli0202_1
Bekkers, R. H. F. P., & Wiepking, P. (2011). A Literature Review of Empirical Studies of Philanthropy: Eight Mechanisms that Drive Charitable Giving. Civil Society and Philantropy (CSPh), 924–973.
Bosch, E., Luther, A. R., & Ihme, K. (2025). Travel experience in public transport : Experience sampling and cardiac activity data for spatial analysis. Scientific Data, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-04955-4
Byrne, D. (2022). A worked example of Braun and Clarke ’ s approach to reflexive thematic analysis. Quality & Quantity, 56(3), 1391–1412. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-021-01182-y
Cialdini, R. B., Reno, R. R., & Kallgren, C. A. (1990). A focus theory of normative conduct: Recycling the concept of norms to reduce littering in public places. APA PsycNet, 58(6), 1015–1026. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.58.6.1015
Darley, J. M., & Latane, B. (1986). Bystander intervention in emergencies: Diffusion of responsibility. APA PsycNet, 8(4), 377–383. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1037/h0025589
Lättman, K., Olsson, L. E., & Friman, M. (2019). Perceived Accessibility , Satisfaction with Daily Travel , and Life Satisfaction among the Elderly.
Lim, T., Thompson, J., Pearson, L., Caldwell, J., & Beck, B. (2024). Transportation Research Part F : Psychology and Behaviour Effects of within-trip subjective experiences on travel satisfaction and travel mode choice : A conceptual framework. Transportation Research Part F: Psychology and Behaviour, 104(June), 201–216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2024.05.024
Liu, C., Xiao, X., Pi, Q., & Tan, Q. (2023). Are you more risk-seeking when helping others ? Effects of situational urgency and peer presence on prosocial risky behavior. Frontiers in Psychology, February, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1036624
Manca, S., Tirotto, F. A., Mura, N., & Fornara, F. (2022). Socio-Psychological and Design Features Related to Transport Choices : A Focus Group Research in the Metropolitan Area of Cagliari ( Sardinia , Italy ). 12(January), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.808509
Penner, L. A., Dovidio, J. F., Piliavin, J. A., & Schroeder, D. A. (2005). Prosocial behavior: multilevel perspectives. National Library Of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.56.091103.070141
Pfattheicher, S., Nielsen, Y. A., & Thielmann, I. (2022). ScienceDirect Prosocial behavior and altruism : A review of concepts and definitions. Current Opinion in Psychology, 44, 124–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.08.021
Rayle, L., Dai, D., Chan, N., Cervero, R., & Shaheen, S. (2016). Just a better taxi? A survey-based comparison of taxis, transit, and ridesourcing services in San Francisco. Transport Policy, 45, 168–178. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2015.10.004
Rossi, G., Dingemanse, M., Floyd, S., Baranova, J., Blythe, J., Kendrick, K. H., Zinken, J., & Enfield, N. J. (2023). Shared cross ‑ cultural principles underlie human prosocial behavior at the smallest scale. Scientific Reports, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-30580-5
Schroeder, D. A., & Graziano, W. G. (2015). The Oxford Handbook of Prosocial Behavior. United Stated of America by Oxford Univertsity Press. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=EfzOBwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&hl=id#v=onepage&q&f=false
Sharon, T., & Koops, B.-J. (2021). The ethics of inattention: revitalising civil inattention as a privacy-protecting mechanism in public spaces. National Library Of Medicine, 23(3), 331–343. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33488275/
Sheller, M. (2013). Public spaces of transport as mobile public spheres and atmospheric publics. Sage Journal, 60(15). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/00420980231191931
Sukhov, A., Lattman, K., Olsson, L. E., Friman, M., & Fujii, S. (2021). Assessing travel satisfaction in public transport : A configurational approach. Transportation Research Part D, 93(February). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2021.102732
Tirachini, A. (2020). Ride-hailing, travel behaviour and sustainable mobility: an international review. Springer Nature Link, 47, 2011–2047. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11116-019-10070-2
Tran, Y., Hashimoto, N., Ando, T., & Sato, T. (2024). The indirect effect of travel mode use on subjective well- being through out-of-home activities. 2359–2391.
Tuvikene, T., & Finch, J. (2023). Public transport as public space : Introduction. 60(15), 2963–2978. https://doi.org/10.1177/00420980231203106
Wong, S., Mclafferty, S. L., Planey, A. M., & Preston, V. A. (2020). Disability , wages , and commuting in New York. Journal of Transport Geography, 87(August), 102818. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2020.102818
Zwirner, E., & Raihani, N. (2026). Neighbourhood wealth , not urbanicity , predicts prosociality towards strangers. May. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2020.1359/621910/rspb.2020.1359.pdf
Published
2026-03-31
Section
Articles
