chapter 14

Question 1

1) Two friends, Jonah and Pete, are discussing whether true altruism really exists. Jonah believes that altruism does exist and uses the example of a volunteer firefighter rushing into a burning building to save a woman trapped in a third story apartment. Pete argues that this action is not true altruism.

Answer 1

altruism: behavior intended to help someone else without any prospect of personal rewards for the helper

Question 2

1. Briefly describe 2 models that have been used to understand helping behavior and discuss how each model would explain these actions by a volunteer firefighter.

Answer 2

helping for mastery: rewards for helping others (material, social, personal, emotional)
helping for connectedness: motivated to help others by a feeling of empathy to relieve another’s suffering

Question 3

2) Currently, there is a great need for people to indicate that they are willing to serve as organ donors after they die. Use what you know about prosocial behavior

Answer 3

prosocial behavior: behavior intended to help someone else

Question 4

2. explain 5 steps that could be taken to increase the number of organ donors.

Answer 4

1. reduce ambiguity
2. increase internal attributions for helping and cooperation
3. teach norms that support helping and cooperation
4. activate prosocial norms
5. infuse responsibility
6. promote identification with those who need help and cooperation