Final answer:
Prosocial lying refers to lying with the intent to protect someone or benefit others in a socially acceptable manner, such as Martin inflating sales figures to make his boss look better. This contrasts with self-serving or harmful lies that do not meet prosocial criteria. Acts of altruism, which are costly to the individual but done to aid others, exemplify prosocial behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
Examples of prosocial lying include lying to prevent harm to another person or lying to benefit someone else in a way that is considered socially acceptable or for the greater good. An appropriate instance from the options provided would be Martin inflating sales figures on a quarterly report to make his boss look better. This can be justified as prosocial because it is intended to protect the boss's reputation or position, despite being ethically questionable.
When discussing prosocial lying, it is important to differentiate it from other forms of deception that may be self-serving or harm others. For instance, misrepresenting personal expenditures as business expenses is self-serving and, therefore, not prosocial. Approving a loan for a couple that is unlikely to afford the payments could have harmful consequences and thus does not fit the prosocial criteria.
Prosocial behavior, as exemplified by acts of altruism, often involves a personal cost but is carried out with the intention to help others for a moral or social benefit.