Lecture Prosocial Behavior

What is Prosocial Behavior? When do We Help? Why do We Help? Who is Most Likely to Help? Whom do We Help?

When Do We Help? Bystander Intervention and the Decision Tree Being helpful involves not just one decision but a series of decisions

Five Steps to Helping In An Emergency (Latane & Darley (1970) Notice that something is happening Interpret event As an emergency Take responsibility For providing help Know how to help Be able to implement decision Provide no help no yes

Notice the event First you must notice the potential need for help Pancer et al. (1979)

Interpreting event as an emergency 1. Perception – screams sound like a hammer? 2. Motivation – interpret as non-emergency so don’t risk embarrassment (Latane & Darley, 1968) (Yakimovich & saltz, 1971)

Accept Responsibility When will you accept responsibility?

When Do We Help? Latane & Nida (1981) The presence of others can reduce the likelihood that any one individual will offer help. The greater the number of witnesses, the less likely it is that help will be given.

When Do We Help? (cont.) Pluralistic ignorance The phenomenon whereby bystanders assume that nothing is wrong b/c no one else looks concerned Latane & Darley (1968)

When Do We Help? (cont.) Diffusion of Responsibility The belief that others will or should take the responsibility for providing assistance to a person in need. (Taking Responsibility). Latane & Darley (1968)

Can we make people take responsibility? The effect of merely asking someone! (Moriarty, 1975)

Determining What to do If person needs CPR and you can’t do CPR, there is a problem. (Piliavin & Piliavin, 1972)

Deciding to act People usually don’t help because of the costs of acting are too high

Deciding to act Darley et al. Time pressure and Theology

Percentage of participants offering help as a function of perceived time pressure

Whom do We Help? Physical Attractiveness Attribution of Responsibility Similarity and Closeness to Person in Need

Whom Do we help? Does race influence helping behavior? (Piliavin, Piliavin, & Rodin, 1969)

Why do we help? Social Exchange Theory - Social economics - Minimax

Why do we help? Volunteering Motives: 1)Values 2)Understanding 3)Social 4)Career 5)Ego Protection 6)Esteem Enhancement

Why Do We Help? Are humans ever truly altruistic – motivated solely by the desire to increase another’s welfare? Or are we helpful only for egoistic reasons – motivated by the desire to increase our own welfare?

Why Do We Help? Negative State Relief Hypothesis Individuals experiencing negative emotions are motivated to help in order to achieve relief from such emotions.

Why Do We Help? Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis Prosocial behavior is motivated solely for the purpose of increasing the welfare of the recipient.

Why Do We Help? Perceive other needs help Personal distress Egoistic Reduction of own distress Empathic concern Altruistic Reduction of other’s distress Adopt other’s perspective yes no Emotional response Type of Motive Satisfaction of motive Based on Bateson, 1991

Percentage of participants who helped as a function of empathy and escape conditions (based on Batson et al., 1981)