Altruism and ProSocial Behavior Altruism Prosocial Behavior http
Altruism and Pro-Social Behavior
Altruism & Prosocial Behavior • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Tghkity. J 4 u 8&feature=related
Types of Helping Behavior • Prosocial behavior (broadest term) – Action intended to benefit another – Can be done to gain either external or internal reward • Benevolence (slightly narrower term) – Action intended to benefit another, but not to gain external reward) • Pure altruism – Action intended to solely benefit another – No external reward to the helper – No internal reward to the helper • Some argue there is no such thing as pure altruism
Defining Prosocial Behavior Type of Behavior Prosocial Behavior Benevolence Pure Altruism Definition Example Any action intended to benefit another (regardless of motive) Giving a large tip to a waiter to impress your boss with your generosity
Type of Behavior Prosocial Behavior Benevolence Pure Altruism Definition Example Benefits another intentionally for no external reward Sending $20 to a charity to make yourself feel good inside
Defining Prosocial Behavior Type of Behavior Prosocial Behavior Benevolence Pure Altruism Definition Example Benefits another intentionally for no external or internal reward Jumping on a railroad track to help a stranger who has fallen
Today’s goals: 1. To understand theoretical perspectives on helping 2. To identify factors (situational and personal) that influence a person’s willingness to provide help HW: Random acts of kindness assignment: Do at least one random act of kindness. Written reflection includes: a. b. c. d. e. description of your altruistic act the recipient’s reaction your own reaction other reflections about the experience explain your act of kindness according to each of theories on prosocial behaviors (to be addressed in class notes)
Pro-social Behavior, Benevolence, or Altruism? Why? • donating blood for money • signing an organ donor card • clicking on a website where if you click, corporation will pay to help • a firefighter rescuing a child from a burning house • a couple donating money to church because they believe in tithing • an education major signing up for peer tutoring • a student reporting a fellow student’s cheating on a test • listening to your sister's boyfriend’s woes • donating unwanted food to a food bank • loaning your roommate $20 until their next check comes in
Write your answer to the following questions in your notebook. 1. There are three people who need you to run a small errand to the store: – A cousin – A sister – An acquaintance You have time to help only one… – Whose errand do you run? Burnstein, Crandall, & Kitayama (1994)
2. There are three people asleep in different rooms of a burning house: – Your 7 year-old female cousin – Your 75 year-old grandfather – A 21 year-old acquaintance You have time to rescue only one… – Who do you save? Burnstein, Crandall, & Kitayama (1994)
Theories of Prosocial Behavior: Possible explanations for why we help • Evolutionary • Social exchange • Empathy-altruism Predict how each of these theories explains why people help.
Theories on Helping Evolutionary Social Exchange Empathy. Altruism
Theories on Helping Evolutionary Survival/Passing on of genes Social Exchange Empathy. Altruism
Darwinian dilemma • Altruistic behavior may decrease chances for reproduction/passing on of genes How can prosocial behavior be explained evolutionarily without contradicting Darwin’s theory?
Basic Motives Underlying Prosocial Behavior: Evolutionary Psychology: Instincts and Genes • There are three people who need you to run a small errand to the store: – A cousin – A sister – An acquaintance • You have time to help only one… – Whose errand do you run?
Burnstein, Crandall, & Kitayama (1994) 3. 0 For everyday help, people tended to help close relatives more than non-relatives 2. 5 Tendency to Help 2. 0 1. 5 1. 0 High (parents, siblings, children) Mod. (grandparents) Low (first cousins) None (acquaintances) Degree of Relatedness
Basic Motives Underlying Prosocial Behavior: Evolutionary Psychology: Instincts and Genes • Burnstein, Crandall, & Kitayama (1994) – Participants in this study were asked to imagine scenarios like the following: • There are three people asleep in different rooms of a burning house: – Your 7 year-old female cousin – Your 75 year-old grandfather – A 21 year-old acquaintance • You have time to rescue only one… – Who do you save?
Burnstein, Crandall, & Kitayama (1994) 3. 0 The difference became even more pronounced in life-or-death situations 2. 5 Tendency to Help 2. 0 1. 5 1. 0 High (parents, siblings, children) Mod. (grandparents) Low (first cousins) None (acquaintances) Degree of Relatedness
Burnstein, Crandall, & Kitayama (1994): Findings • Kin are helped more than non-kin, especially in life-or-death situations • Females are helped more than males, except elderly females (post- menopausal) • Young are helped more than old • Healthy relatives helped more than non-healthy in life-or-death situations • In life-or-death helping, relatedness matters (this assures that our genes will continue) • In everyday helping, we may be guided more by social norms and moral rules (e. g. , "help the sick") Why do these findings make sense from an evolutionary point of view?
Theories on Helping Evolutionary Survival/Passing on of genes Kin selection: More likely to help genetically similar people Social Exchange Empathy. Altruism
Theories on Helping Evolutionary Survival/Passing on of genes Kin selection: More likely to help genetically similar people Norm of reciprocity: Help because person may help me later Social Exchange Empathy. Altruism
Theories on Helping Evolutionary Social Exchange Survival/Passing on of genes Costs vs. benefits Kin selection: More likely to help genetically similar people Norm of reciprocity: Help because person may help me later Empathy. Altruism
Theories on Helping • In what ways do we benefit from helping others? – Increases chances of others helping us – Relieves distress of bystander – Social approval – Self-worth • In what ways can helping others cost us? – danger – pain – embarrassment – time –$
Theories on Helping Evolutionary Social Exchange Survival/Passing on of genes Costs vs. benefits Kin selection: More likely to help genetically similar people If costs outweigh rewards, we don’t help Norm of reciprocity: Help because person may help me later No pure altruism Empathy. Altruism
Theories on Helping • What is empathy?
Theories on Helping Social Exchange Empathy. Altruism Survival/Passing on of genes Costs vs. benefits Empathy leads to altruism Kin selection: More likely to help genetically similar people If costs outweigh rewards, we don’t help Norm of reciprocity: Help because person may help me later No pure altruism Evolutionary
Theories on Helping Social Exchange Empathy. Altruism Costs vs. benefits Empathy leads to altruism Kin selection: More likely to help genetically similar people If costs outweigh rewards, we don’t help More likely to help if we are able to experience events and emotions the way that person experiences them Norm of reciprocity: Help because person may help me later No pure altruism Pure altruism Evolutionary Survival/Passing on of genes
The Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis From C. D. Batson, The Altruism Question, 1991. Reprinted with permission of Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. Altruistic: Motivated by the desire to increase another’s welfare Egoistic: Motivated by the desire to increase one’s own welfare C. D. Batson, The Altruism Question. Copyright © 1991 by Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. Reprinted by permission.
Situational factors can influence prosocial behavior: – Presence of others/Bystander effect – Environmental conditions • Helping more likely to occur in “positive” conditions – Sunny weather – Daylight – Small town vs. big city (Urban Overload Theory) – Time pressures • More likely to help when there are not time pressures
PERSONAL QUALITIES AND PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOR: WHY DO SOME PEOPLE HELP MORE THAN OTHERS? Gender • Men = – more likely to perform chivalrous and heroic acts – more likely to help strangers in emergency situations • Women = – more likely to be helpful in long-term relationships that involve greater commitment (neighbor or elderly relative)
Gender differences in receiving help • Are people more likely to help women or men? It depends. – Male helpers are more likely to help women than men. – Female helpers are equally likely to help men and women. • Women not only receive more help from men, but they also SEEK more help.
Mood • Feel Good, Do Good: When people are in a good mood, they are more helpful (Isen and Levin, 1972) • Feel Bad, Do Good: People help to alleviate their own sadness and distress
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