Prosocial Behavior Lecture Flashcards
What is Prosocial Behavior?
Any act that benefits another
What is Altruism?
Any act that benefits another even if it involves a cost
Based on evolutionary theory, why do people participate in altruism?
Kin selection- save someone related to you to make sure your genes survive
Reciprocity norm- animals help another animal then the animal will reciprocate and can maybe start a chain reaction
Learning social norms
J. Darley & Batson, 1973 Good Samaritan Study
Procedures: Use a preamble (verse) from the bible which teaches a moral lesson.
Some participants (ministers) tell a sermon on the passage, and others tell their sermons are on another topic.
They were going to pass an alley to go to another building where there was a confederate who looked homeless.
Some were told they were late for the sermon, and others were told they had a good amount of time
Results: The people who stop and help are those who are not in a hurry to the sermon (time pressure matters).
Low hurry- 63% help
Medium hurry - 45% help
High hurry - 10% help
Kitty Genovese Case 1964
Kitty was arriving home and was attacked by someone with a knife
38 people have either heard or seen, and nobody did anything
Latane & Darley 1968
Aim: Bystander intervention
So many possible helpers, then nobody intervened - diffusion of responsibility
Seizure Study:
Feature a discussion between real participants and subjects; every person is allowed to speak for 2 minutes (recordings)
The victim disclaims they are prone to seizures and then has a seizure towards the end of the conversation.
Results: Who helps depends on how many other people are around the participant.
85% of people help when they are alone with the victim
62% of people help when they are with another person and the victim
31% of people help when there are 4 other people and the victim.
Smoky Room Study
Aim: Pluralistic ignorance
Procedure: Complete a survey by themselves or with other “participants” (confederates). Then the room starts to fill with smoke.
Results: When alone, 75% reported the smoke
With 2 unresponsive confederates, 10% reported the smoke
Specific helping behaviors shown by humans might have evolutionary roots if they are
seen throughout the world
similar to those exhibited by animals
exhibited especially between related individuals
What does Daniel Batson believe about high empathy people?
High empathy folks will help for no other reason
Tori & Batson 1983 Help Carol
Aim: Who will help Carol, who’s been in an accident?
(seeing vs not seeing her)
(easy-escape vs difficult escape)
Results: Low empathy: Only help if they will have to see her in their section (cost/benefit analysis)
High empathy: Doesn’t matter if in the same section; help regardless
Aversive arousal reduction
Want to avoid feeling bad
An alternative explanation than empathy
Batson et al: Take Shock for Elaine?
Participants are in the observer role while the confederate is getting shocked
The participants asked if they would exchange spots with Elaine.
There is an easy-escape condition where they are now able to leave and only need to answer some questions.
There is the difficult-escape condition where they are told they need to stay and watch Elaine finish her trials.
Results: Low empathy: help if can’t escape (if they have to watch her get shocked)
High Empathy: Escape relevant (if they watch or get to leave, it doesn’t matter, they will help Elaine)
Empathy-specific punishment (social reward)
An alternative to empathy
It looks bad if I don’t intervene
Batson et al 1988, Study 2: Help Katie?
Katie lost her parents in a car crash and has to take care of her brother by herself.
There are two letters, Katie wrote about what help she needs.
Made clear that additional folks would be asked later. (sign up sheet)
Results:
Low empathy: help if everyone helps, otherwise no
High empathy: Help regardless
Empathy-specific reward
Alternative to empathy
Feel pride when you help
Batson et al 1988 Study 1
Participants were told that for each question they get correct in the task reduces Brian/Janet gets less shocked. But the person may be change to non-shock condition anyway
Empathy measured
Results:
Low empathy: happy if they as participant help reduce shock -otherwise no
High empathy: happy of help OR is person changed to non-shock condition
Negative-state relief
a subtype of empathy-specific reward
Helping will elevate your mood
Batson et al 1989 Study 2,3
Help and get to see happy (sad) video later
Since the happy movie will elevate their mood
Results:
Low empathy: help only if not getting happy video later
High empathy: help regardless
Vicarious Joy
Share the target’s joy
subtype of empathy-specific reward
Batson et al 1991 Study 1
Help Katie but some participants know whether she benefited or not while others didn’t `
Results:
Low empathy: help if they know she benefited
High empathy: help regardless
Summary of Batson Studies
People help if they feel empathy, not just because
Want to stop feeling bad
Fear what others will think
Expect to feel good
But because we put ourselves in their shoes
What are other reasons to help?
Helping someone can put you in a good mood
Initiate or maintain to stay in a good mood by helping others
If it might ruin your mood, then you won’t help
Cognitively distracted - drunk, playing a video game
Tai Teddy Bear Study
Aim: Social Isolation manipulation and Anthropomorphism
Procedures: Different conditions whether you touch the teddy bear or not
Alcohol Myopia
Claude Steele
Alcohol diminished cognitive capacity
Intoxicated attend only to salient (noticeable cues)
