Prosocial behavior Why do people help?

Does Pure Altruism Exist? Altruism (textbook definition) - The desire to help another person even if it involves a cost to the helper.Altruism (textbook definition) - The desire to help another person even if it involves a cost to the helper. Pure altruism (another definition) - Behavior that benefits another intentionally for no external or internal reward.Pure altruism (another definition) - Behavior that benefits another intentionally for no external or internal reward. Empathy-altruism hypothesis - When we feel empathy for a person, we will attempt to help that person purely for altruistic reasons, regardless of what we have to gain.Empathy-altruism hypothesis - When we feel empathy for a person, we will attempt to help that person purely for altruistic reasons, regardless of what we have to gain. Social exchange theory - (from chapter 10, basically says: rewards > costs) SET argues that true altruism does not exist because only help others when rewards outweighs costsSocial exchange theory - (from chapter 10, basically says: rewards > costs) SET argues that true altruism does not exist because only help others when rewards outweighs costs

Genetic Relatedness and Helping Would you lend your car to your brother?Would you lend your car to your brother? What about your grandfather?What about your grandfather? What about a cousin?What about a cousin? What about an attractive stranger?What about an attractive stranger? Michael Cunningham and his colleagues asked people whether they would be willing to help other people in different situations.Michael Cunningham and his colleagues asked people whether they would be willing to help other people in different situations.

High (parents, siblings, children) Percentage Volunteering to Help 40 Degree of Relatedness Mod. (grand- parents) Low (first cousins) None (attractive strangers) “Inclusive Fitness”

Insights into the Evolution of Help Inclusive fitness - sum of individual’s reproductive success PLUS reproductive success of relatives who were helped by that individualInclusive fitness - sum of individual’s reproductive success PLUS reproductive success of relatives who were helped by that individual Helping a brother or sister promotes the survival of genes he or she shares with the helperHelping a brother or sister promotes the survival of genes he or she shares with the helper Reciprocal Aid - help that occurs in return for prior helpReciprocal Aid - help that occurs in return for prior help Other animals will help non-relatives if they live in close proximity and can better survive by sharing.Other animals will help non-relatives if they live in close proximity and can better survive by sharing.

Similarity and Familiarity Similarity may be a cue to genetic relatedness (our relatives look like us).Similarity may be a cue to genetic relatedness (our relatives look like us). Competitors in a negotiation game were more trusting if shown a photo of their opponent that had been “morphed” to look like them.Competitors in a negotiation game were more trusting if shown a photo of their opponent that had been “morphed” to look like them.

The tendency to help relatives over strangers is stronger when help is related to survival.The tendency to help relatives over strangers is stronger when help is related to survival. Research: There are three people asleep in different rooms of a burning house: cousinA cousin A grandfather acquaintanceAn acquaintance. You have time to rescue only one. Which do you save? There are three people who need you to run a small errand to the store: A cousinA cousin AA grandfather An acquaintance.An acquaintance. You have time to help only one. Whose errand do you run? Genetic Similarity and Need

High (parents, siblings, children) Tendency to Help (errand) 2.0 Degree of Relatedness Mod. (grand- parents) Low (first cousins) None (acquaintances) For everyday help, people tended to help close relatives more than non-relatives

High (parents, siblings, children) 2.0 Degree of Relatedness Mod. (grand- parents) Low (first cousins) The difference became even more pronounced in life-or-death situations None (acquaintances) Tendency to Help (burning house)

Learning to Help: Instilled Beliefs Students who have studied economics and learned the principle of self-interest:Students who have studied economics and learned the principle of self-interest: Are less likely to contribute to charitiesAre less likely to contribute to charities Are more likely to exploit a partner in a bargaining gameAre more likely to exploit a partner in a bargaining game Are more likely to negotiate for a lopsided paymentAre more likely to negotiate for a lopsided payment

Children exposed to others of different ethnic and religious backgrounds later develop a feeling of “we-ness” with the larger human familyChildren exposed to others of different ethnic and religious backgrounds later develop a feeling of “we-ness” with the larger human family European Gentiles who helped Jews escape from Nazis were exposed to more different ethnicities growing up than were non-helpersEuropean Gentiles who helped Jews escape from Nazis were exposed to more different ethnicities growing up than were non-helpers Learning to Help: Expanded sense of “we”

Labeling a child as “kind and helpful” increases his or her later willingness to donate prizes to other children.Labeling a child as “kind and helpful” increases his or her later willingness to donate prizes to other children. People who define themselves as highly committed to their spiritual beliefs are, compared to the less committed, twice as likely to volunteer time to help the needy.People who define themselves as highly committed to their spiritual beliefs are, compared to the less committed, twice as likely to volunteer time to help the needy. Learning to Help: Labeling and self-labeling

The effects of mood: Good Mood Research study:Research study: If found coins researcher left in mall pay phone, 84% of people helped a man pick up papersIf found coins researcher left in mall pay phone, 84% of people helped a man pick up papers If did not find coins…. 4% of people helped a man pick up papersIf did not find coins…. 4% of people helped a man pick up papers Being in a good mood can increase helping for three reasons: 1.Good moods make us look on the bright side of life. 2.Helping others can prolong our good mood. 3.Good moods increase self-attention.

The effects of mood: Presence of Sadness Helping can be increased by events triggering temporary sadness, such as:Helping can be increased by events triggering temporary sadness, such as: Reminiscing about unhappy experiencesReminiscing about unhappy experiences Reading depressing statementsReading depressing statements Failing at a taskFailing at a task Witnessing harm to another.Witnessing harm to another.