Altruism & Helping Behavior

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Altruism & Helping Behavior

• Altruism = an unselfish concern for another’s welfare– Helping behavior does not

seem to come naturally• Pick up from learning/environment

The Kitty Genovese Story• NYC (Kew Gardens) – March 13, 1964• 3:30am – 28yo woman going from car

to apt.• Man attacked, stabbed, and raped her• She screamed and 38 neighbors heard,

turned on lights, and came to window– Attacker left scene– However, nobody came to help or

called police• Attacker soon returned to stab and rape

her again• Neighbors again came to window, but

nobody intervened• Eventually someone called police, but

too late– She died on the way to the hospital

• Public appalled that nobody took action– Some neighbors explained they didn’t

want to get involved

Why do we help?• Social Exchange Theory

– We help when the costs of helping are outweighed by the benefits

• Some factors influencing help behavior:– Clarity of need– Presence of others (diffusion of

responsibility)• Bystander Effect – a phenomenon where

chances someone will help decrease as number of people present increases

– Personality of helper (especially empathy)– Environmental factors (urban vs. rural –

population density)– Mood