Copyright © 2012 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited Altruism  A motive to increase another’s welfare without conscious regard for one’s self-interests 1 LO1

Copyright © 2012 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited Social exchange  The theory that human interactions are transactions that aim to maximize one’s rewards and minimize one’s costs  Rewards  Internal or external  Increasing self-worth, reclaiming a positive public image  Reducing distress, guilt,  Egoism: The idea that self-interest motives all behaviour 2 LO1

Copyright © 2012 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited Social exchange  Feel bad, do good  When one’s attention is on others, altruism is rewarding  Feel good, do good  Happy people are helpful people 3 LO1

Copyright © 2012 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited Social exchange 4 Data from Isen et al. (1976) LO1

Copyright © 2012 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited Social norms  The reciprocity norm  An expectation that people will help, not hurt, those who have helped them  Helps define the “social capital”  The social-responsibility norm  An expectation that people will help those dependent on them  Responses are closely tied to attributions  Gender and receiving help 5 Whatley et al. (1999) LO1

Copyright © 2012 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited Evolutionary psychology  Kin protection  The idea that evolution has selected altruism toward one’s close relatives to enhance the survival of mutually shared genes  Reciprocity  Helping another because of the expectation that the favour will be returned  Stronger in small, isolated groups  Group selection 6 LO1

Copyright © 2012 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited Comparing and evaluating theories of altruism 7 LO1 Comparing Theories of Altruism How is Altruism Explained? TheoryLevel of Explanation Mutual “Altruism”Intrinsic Altruism Social NormsSociologicalReciprocity normSocial- responsibility norm Social exchangePsychologicalExternal rewards for helping Distress – inner rewards for helping EvolutionaryBiologicalReciprocityKin selection

Copyright © 2012 McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited Comparing and evaluating theories of altruism  Genuine altruism  Empathy: The vicarious experience of another’s feeling; putting oneself in another’s shoes 8 LO1