Altruism and pro-social behavior

Dr Alex HuntClinical psychologist

• 1. selflessness: an attitude or way of behaving marked by unselfish concern for the welfare of others

2. belief in acting for others' good: the belief that acting for the benefit of others is right and good

[Mid-19th century. < French altruisme< Italian altrui "that which belongs to other people" < Latin alter "other"]

Pro-Social Behaviors

• Schroeder 1995 - Helping, comforting, co-operating, sharing, re-assuring, defending, charity concern

• Acts that unintentionally help others not altruism, those that intend to help, but don’t count as altruism

• Altruism -self sacrificial costs absence of obvious external rewards (Bateson,1980)

Does Altruism exist?

• Does true altruism exist?- theory of universal egoism people are fundamentally selfish

• McDougal-sympathetic instincts are responsible for altruism

• Socio-biologists argue that altruism is an act of selfishness in disguise

• All acts motivated by self benefit, however subtle?

Kitty Genovese

• Murder of Kitty Genovese open the floodgates to research into altruism and bystander intervention…

Video

Bystander apathy

• Diffucion of reponsibility:• More people around the assumption is

someone else will do something• Situational cues

Decision model of bystander intervention

• Latene and Darley (1970)

• Steps or decisions to helping others:– Notice that something is wrong– Define it as a situation requiring help– Decide whether to take personal responsibility– Decide what help to give– Implement the decision to help

Factors affecting bystander intervention

• Pluralistic Ignorance – Accepting personal responsibility or diffusing

responsibility– Study –epileptic man– Explanation for bystander apathy

• Role of Competence– In the presence of people you believe to be more

competent there is an increase of diffusion of responsibility,

– Eg lifeguard

Arousal cost reward model (ACR)(also social exchange theory)

• Economic view of human behaviour• Pilliavin (1969)

• Two conceptually distinct but functionally interdependent influences on helping:– Arousal – in response to the need or distress of others;

emotional response, motivated to reduce it

– Cost reward – cognitive component where bystanders assess the anticipated costs and rewards associated with both helping or not helping

ACR

• Model states that people who feel emotional arousal in relation to a persons situation are motivated to reduce the arousal, incurring as few costs as possible

• Emotion provides the motivation to do something

• Cognitive component determines most efficient or effective response

Cost reward analysis

• Costs of helping– Lost time, effort, physical danger, embarrassment,

disruption of activity, psychological aversion• Rewards of helping– Fame, gratitude of victim and relatives, pleasure and

self satisfaction, avoidance of guilt, money!• Costs of not helping– Guilt and blame from others, internal shame and

guilt, cognitive emotional consequences of leaving someone suffering

Cost analysis

Costs of helping lowCosts of not helping high

Likelihood of intervention: Very high and direct

Costs of helping highCosts of not helping high

Likelihood of intervention: fairly high but indirect  or redefine the situation

Costs of helping highCosts of not helping low

Likelihood of intervention: Very low

Costs of helping lowCosts of not helping low

Likelihood of intervention: fairly high 

Cost reward analysis

• Costs for not helping affect intervention when the costs for helping are low

• High cost for helping vs. high cost for not helping dilemma – cognitive reinterpretation– Redefine the situation as one not requiring help– Diffusing responsibility– Denigrating, blaming the victim

Victim influences

• More likely to help those similar to ourselves

• Racisits who would be exposed as such don’t discriminate, but where their decision not to help can be blamed on another factor they then discriminate

• Attributions important: is the person responsible for their predicament? (Drunk vs blind person)

Empathic altruism

• Some altruism not egotistically motivated• Some altruism is empathetic with the genuine

motivation to help others

• More empathic emotion: sympathy, concern, tenderness, more the altruistic desire to relieve victims suffering

• self orientated emotions: discomfort, anxiety, upset egotistic desire to reduce own distress

Paradox of altruism

• Some behaviour which is altruistic exposes self to greater risk: goes against survival of the fittest – – rabbit thumping foot to warn of predator

• For the greater good; benefit the group, particularly kin

• Increase likelihood of others helping you in furture