Ch. 10: Helping Behaviors Part 1: Nov. 8, 2010

Helping (or not helping) Examples of people in distress who are ignored What determine why/when people help? – 1) Evolutionary factors: Role of ‘kin selection’ What research supports this?

Other evolutionary explanations: – Reciprocity – Empathy Cognitive component – Emotional component –

2) Cost-reward model – Social exchange – focus on rewards What are possible rewards? – Well-being – Following social norms – Related question of whether helping is altruistic or egoistic?

Empathy-altruism hypothesis Batson’s research indicating role of perspective taking in determine whether helping is altruistic or egoistic – Perspective of other  empathy  altruism – No perspective of other  distress  egoistic – Possibility of multiple motives

Voluteering Increases in volunteering after disasters (9/11, Hurricane Katrina…) – Penner’s research – possible theories: 1. Modeling 2. Threat to community 3. Just-world theory 4. Terror management theory 5. Negative state relief