Altruism and Aggression

Chapter 8

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Class Exercise & Discussion

List three occasions when you helped another person.

What were your motives for helping the person on each occasion?

HELPING and ALTRUISM

1. Motivation to Help Others

2. Characteristics of Needy -> Helping

3. Normative Factors

4. Personal and Situational Factors

5. Bystander Intervention in

Emergencies

6. Seeking and Receiving Help

1. Motivation to Help Others

Prosocial behavior (Broad category)

Beneficial to others

Positive social consequences

1. Motivation to Help Others

1. Helping Behavior intended to benefit

another Does not address helper

benefit

2. Altruism Voluntary help for others No expectation of reward

What is Altruism?

From Latin word alter – meaning “other” Altruism – means “living for others” Key component – Selflessness

Ignored as area of study until the mid-20th century Even though Auguste Comte coined the term

100 years prior

Motivation to Help Others

3. Egoism Rewards for helping Costs of helping & not

helping Distress

Motivation to Help Others

4. Genuine concern for others Empathy

5. Evolved trait Survival of genes Reciprocation

Egoism & Cost-Reward Motivation

Costs for Helping Time Danger Expenditure of effort

Costs for Not Helping Public disapproval Loss of face Embarrassment

Egoism & Cost-Reward Motivation

Rewards: Thanks Admiration Financial rewards Recognition of

competence

Altruism and Empathetic Concern

Empathy-altruism model Two states of emotional

arousal witnessing another’s suffering

1. Distress: Shock, alarm, worry, upset

2. Empathy: Compassion, concern, warmth, and tenderness

Empathy heightened Victim similar to self

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Evolution and Helping

Evolutionary Theory: Genetic trait that helps individuals survive

will be passed on to next generation Can also explain selfish or aggressive

behavior Sociobiology:

Related to “survival of the fittest” Most likely to help those closely related to us Reciprocity from non-relatives

2. Characteristics of Needy that foster Helping

1. Acquaintanceship

2. Liking

3. Similarity

4. Deservingness

3. Normative Factors in Helping

Outsiders should ‘mind their own business’

Norm of Responsibility Norm of Reciprocity Personal Norms Role Behavior

11/27 4. Personal & Situational Factors

Modeling Effects What actions are possible

Gender Differences Depends on situation

Good and Bad Moods Good mood encourages helping

Guilt If feel responsible

Bystander Intervention in Emergency Situations

1. Notice something is happening

2. Interpret as an emergency

3. Assume responsibility

4. Know appropriate assistance

5. Implement assistance

The Bystander Effect

In emergency situations Potential helpers Influenced by relationship with

other bystanders Bystander effect: As number of bystanders

increases, likelihood that any one bystander will help a victim decreases

Understanding the Bystander Effect

Evaluation apprehension Concern about what others

expect How others evaluate their

behavior

Diffusion of responsibility Someone else will help

How to get emergency help!!!

Costs of Emergency Intervention

Arousal/cost-reward model

Needs of the victim

Their own needs & goals

Decide if helping is too costly

6. Seeking & Receiving Help

Help & Obligation Norm of self-reliance Resent too much help

Threats to Self-Esteem Implies weaknesses