Altruism and Aggression Chapter 8

2 Class Exercise & Discussion  List three occasions when you helped another person.  What were your motives for helping the person on each occasion?

HELPING and ALTRUISM 1. Motivation to Help Others 2. Characteristics of Needy -> Helping 3. Normative Factors 4. Personal and Situational Factors 5. Bystander Intervention in Emergencies 6. Seeking and Receiving Help

1. Motivation to Help Others  Prosocial behavior (Broad category) Beneficial to others Positive social consequences

1. Motivation to Help Others  1. Helping Behavior intended to benefit another Does not address helper benefit  2. Altruism Voluntary help for others No expectation of reward

What is Altruism?  From Latin word alter – meaning “other”  Altruism – means “living for others”  Key component – Selflessness  Ignored as area of study until the mid-20 th century Even though Auguste Comte coined the term 100 years prior

Motivation to Help Others  3. Egoism Rewards for helping Costs of helping & not helping Distress

Motivation to Help Others  4. Genuine concern for others Empathy  5. Evolved trait Survival of genes Reciprocation

Egoism & Cost-Reward Motivation  Costs for Helping Time Danger Expenditure of effort  Costs for Not Helping Public disapproval Loss of face Embarrassment

Egoism & Cost-Reward Motivation  Rewards: Thanks Admiration Financial rewards Recognition of competence

Altruism and Empathetic Concern  Empathy-altruism model Two states of emotional arousal witnessing another’s suffering 1. Distress: Shock, alarm, worry, upset 2. Empathy: Compassion, concern, warmth, and tenderness  Empathy heightened Victim similar to self

12 Evolution and Helping  Evolutionary Theory: Genetic trait that helps individuals survive will be passed on to next generation  Can also explain selfish or aggressive behavior  Sociobiology: Related to “survival of the fittest” Most likely to help those closely related to us Reciprocity from non-relatives

2. Characteristics of Needy that foster Helping 1. Acquaintanceship 2. Liking 3. Similarity 4. Deservingness

3. Normative Factors in Helping  Outsiders should ‘mind their own business’  Norm of Responsibility  Norm of Reciprocity  Personal Norms  Role Behavior

11/27 4. Personal & Situational Factors  Modeling Effects What actions are possible  Gender Differences Depends on situation  Good and Bad Moods Good mood encourages helping  Guilt If feel responsible

Bystander Intervention in Emergency Situations  1. Notice something is happening  2. Interpret as an emergency  3. Assume responsibility  4. Know appropriate assistance  5. Implement assistance

The Bystander Effect  In emergency situations  Potential helpers  Influenced by relationship with other bystanders  Bystander effect:  As number of bystanders increases, likelihood that any one bystander will help a victim decreases

Understanding the Bystander Effect  Evaluation apprehension Concern about what others expect How others evaluate their behavior  Diffusion of responsibility Someone else will help  How to get emergency help!!!

Costs of Emergency Intervention  Arousal/cost-reward model Needs of the victim Their own needs & goals  Decide if helping is too costly

6. Seeking & Receiving Help  Help & Obligation Norm of self-reliance Resent too much help  Threats to Self-Esteem Implies weaknesses