Whom do we help? When do we help? Why do we help? Prosocial Behavior Whom do we help? When do we help? Why do we help?

Prosocial Behavior Voluntary behavior that is carried out to benefit another person

Whom Do We Help?

Genetic Determinism Model Behavior is driven by genetic attributes that evolved because they enhanced the probability of transmitting one’s genes to subsequent generations Kin Selection

Whom do we help? Similar Others

Whom do we help? Deserving Others Just-World Belief

Whom do we help? Communal Relationships: Those in which people’s primary concern is with the welfare of the other person. Exchange Relationships: Those in which people’s primary concern is with equity.

When Do We Help?

Kitty Genovese

Bystander Effect People are less likely to offer help when they are in the presence of other than when they are alone

Bystander-Intervention Model Notice STOP NO YES

Notice An Emergency Darley & Batson, 1973 The Good Samaritans The more pressure, the less helpful

Bystander-Intervention Model Notice YES STOP NO STOP Interpret NO YES

Interpret An Emergency Pluralistic Ignorance Tendency of bystanders in an emergency to rely on what other bystanders do and say

Interpret An Emergency Pluralistic Ignorance Tendency of bystanders in an emergency to rely on what other bystanders do and say Reported problem less when alone w/others ALONE

Bystander-Intervention Model Notice YES STOP NO STOP Interpret YES NO Responsible STOP NO YES

Assume Responsibility Diffusion of Responsibility Belief that the presence of people in a situation makes one less personally responsible The presence of others reduced the tendency to help

Bystander-Intervention Model Notice YES STOP NO STOP Interpret YES NO Responsible STOP NO YES Know STOP NO YES

WHY Do We Help?

Prosocial Motivation The motivation to increase another person’s welfare

Arousal: Cost-Reward Model Don’t Help Emergency Arousal Weigh Costs & Benefits Help

Arousal: Cost-Reward Model Cost of Helping Cost of not helping Action Intervene No Intervene

Source of Arousal Egoistic Helping When a helper seeks to increase his or her own welfare by helping another Altruistic Helping When a helper seeks to increase another’s welfare and expects nothing in return

Why We Help: Altruism Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis Proposal that prosocial behavior is motivated solely by the desire to help someone in need Tended to help only when it was difficult to escape