Chapter 12 Flashcards
(41 cards)
Motive to increase another’s welfare without conscious regard for one’s self-interests; unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others
Altruism
Motive to increase one’s own welfare; idea that self-interest motivates all behavior
Egoism
Theory that human interactions are transactions that aim to maximize one’s
rewards and minimize one’s costs.
Social-exchange Theory
Things that motivate helping may be internal or external.
Rewards
2 Types of Rewards
External Rewards (of helping)
Internal Rewards (of helping)
We give to get; we are most eager to help someone attractive to us, someone whose approval we desire
External Rewards (of helping)
Benefits of helping include self rewards; reducing distress by helping someone in distress.
Internal Rewards (of helping)
Lead to good action to reduce private guilt, restore a shaken self-image, and reclaim a positive public image.
Reducing Guilt
Occurs when people whose attention is on others, people for whom altruism is
therefore rewarding.
Feel Bad / Do Good Effect
Generous people are happier than those whose spending is self-focused; positive mood of relief can dramatically boost helping.
Do Good / Feel-Good Effect
Social expectations; tells us what we ought
to do thus it prescribes proper behavior.
Social Norms
An expectation that people will help, not hurt, those who have helped them
The Reciprocity Norm
2 Social Norms that Motivate Altruism
The Reciprocity Norm
The Social Responsibility Norm
The mutual support and cooperation enabled by a social network.
Social Capital
If we attribute the need to an uncontrollable predicament, we help; if we attribute the need to the person’s choices, fairness does not require us to help; we say it’s the person’s own fault
The Social Responsibility Norm
Psychology contends that life’s essence is gene survival.
Evolutionary Theory
The idea that evolution has selected altruism toward one’s close relatives to enhance the survival of mutually shared genes; if you carry my genes, I’ll favor you.
Kin selection
An organism helps another because it
expects help in return
Reciprocity
We scratch each other’s backs.
Direct reciprocity
I’ll scratch your back, you scratch someone’s, and someone will scratch mine.
Indirect reciprocity
When groups are in competition, groups of mutually supportive altruists outlast groups of non altruists; back-scratching groups survive.
Group selection
Vicarious experience of another’s feelings; putting oneself in another’s shoes.
Empathy
Circumstances that prompt people to help, or not to help. (4)
Number of bystanders
Helping When Someone Else Does
Time Pressures
Similarity
Presence of others reduce helping behavior.
Number of bystanders