Lecture 9- Prosocial behaviour Flashcards
(19 cards)
What is prosocial behaviour?
Acts that are positively valued by society
What is considered helping behaviour?
Intentional and benefits others
What are the 4 reasons people help others?
Evolutionary perspective
Learning to be helpful
Social norms
Empathy-altruism hypothesis
What is suggested by the evolutionary perspective?
Suggests existence of prosocial tendencies in humans because of :
-Genetically based predispositions to act prosocially.
-The evolutionary success of people who displayed such predispositions.
What are the 2 aspects of evolutionary perspective?
Kin selection
Reciprocal altruism
What is Kin selection?
Evolutionary benefit in terms of inclusive fitness to those who help relatives
What does Burnstein et al (1994) say about kin selection?
Suggests we have greater tendency to help closer kin than distant and more likely to help those who are healthy than sick in life/death situations.
What is reciprocal altruism?
Helping others increases the likelihood that they will help us. Reciprocity= benefits that may add to evolutionary success which increases status and reputation in community.
What is indirect reciprocity?
If someone witnesses you helping someone else, they are more likely to help you in future.
What is learning to be helpful?
-Observational learning/modelling using reinforcement as acts that are rewarded are more likely to be repeated.
What are two social norms?
Reciprocity principle
Social responsibility
What is reciprocity principle?
We should help those that help us
What is social responsibility?
We should help people who are dependent and in need without regard to future exchanges.
What is the empathy-altriusm-altruism hypothesis?
Perception that someone needs help > Imagining how that person feels > empathetic concern > altruistic motive with ultimate goal of increasing the others welfare.
What is the bystander effect?
People less likely to help in an emergency when they are with others compared to when alone.
What is bystander intervention?
Individual break out of role of bystander and helps.
What happens in the Cognitive model of bystander intervention (Latane & Darley, 1970)
Notice the incident > interpret the incident > accept personal responsibility > decide on what can be done
What are the processes attributing to bystander apathy?
-Diffusion of responsibility -Audience inhibition -Social influence
What are the 2 person factors involved in
Competence and mood states (good/guilt =more likely to help)
