Unit 11 Essential Question: How do we relate to one another? Altruism: unselfish regard to the welfare of others.
Examples of altruism: Read the examples of altruism on your sheet. What would you do in these situations? Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation? What did you do? What do you think motivates people to help?
On March 13, 1964, a stalker repeatedly stabbed Kitty Genovese and raped her. She called out for help at 3:30 AM saying things like, “Oh, my God, he stabbed me!” “Please help me!” as she lay dying outside her Queens, New York apartment. Windows opened and lights went on as her neighbors heard her, and the attacker left. However, the attacker came back, stabbed Kitty 8 more times and raped her again. Not until he left for good did her neighbors call the police at 3:50 AM.
The Kitty Genovese murder caused others to be outraged at the bystanders’ lack of action. Why did the neighbors behave this way? John Darley and Bibb Latane (1968) attributed the inaction as a result of other people being present. We will only help if we notice the incident, interpret it as an emergency and assume responsibility for helping.
Bystander Effect: If other bystanders are present, any given bystander is less likely to give aid than if they were alone. This is because when others are present, our sense of responsibility is diffused (others can help, maybe I am not the best person to help in this situation, etc). What happens when bystanders band together? What happens when bystanders are called to action by law? Read the examples on your handout.
Why do we help? social exchange theory: our social behavior is such that maximizes benefits and minimizes cost. positive reciprocity norm: an expectation that people will help, not hurt, those who have helped them. social-responsibility norm: an expectation that people will help those dependent on them. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frpp6DjCaJU
Example of helping and vigilantism http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frpp6DjCaJU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf2bwjedB1Y