Emotional Closeness as a Mediator of the Effect of Genetic Relatedness on Altruism By: Josephine D. Korchmaros and David A. Kenny Presentation By: Kristin Palmer and Caitlin Senske

EMOTIONAL CLOSENESS - Does it matter?  The study explores the impact that emotional closeness has on the relationship between genetic relatedness and altruism.  Proximate Cause  Ultimate Cause Korchmaros, J. D., & Kenny, D. A. (2001). Emotional closeness as a mediator of the effect of genetic relatedness on altruism. Psycho logical Science, 12 (3),

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THE KEY IDEAS  Altruistic Acts  Genetic relatedness or emotional closeness?  Even though altruism is a widely common behavior in many species, it is still unknown what proximal causes lead to this behavior.  Inclusive fitness theory (Hamilton 1964) Korchmaros, J. D., & Kenny, D. A. (2001). Emotional closeness as a mediator of the effect of genetic relatedness on altruism. Psychological Science, 12 (3),

THE STUDY Method : - Participants o29 (12 male, 19 females) oUndergraduate college students) - Materials oQuestionnaire format oHypothetical dilemmas Korchmaros, J. D., & Kenny, D. A. (2001). Emotional closeness as a mediator of the effect of genetic relatedness on altruism. Psychological Science, 12 (3),

What HAPPENED?  RESULTS: Willingness to act altruistically varied upon certain family members.  Highlighting the importance of emotional closeness  Genetic relatedness and willingness to act altruistically were first analyzed through an unmediated model.  Bottom Line: The more emotionally close kin are, the more likely they are to act altruistically towards one another, increasing the inclusive fitness for genes that enable altruism.

Relationship between kinship and altruism

PANEL’S CRITICAL REVIEW  CRITIQUES: Sample Size Hypothetical situations Elaboration of the mechanism by which genetic relatedness affects altruism  Interesting Points: Increases our understanding of altruistic behavior More complete understanding of proximate and ultimate causes

DISCUSSION QUESTION  Although women’s willingness to assist other people increased as genetic relatedness increased among kin, women tended to be more willing to aid friends than kin. Why do you think this is so? What is the difference between male and female altruistic tendencies?

POTENTIAL TEST QUESTIONS MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. Altruism is: a. Assisting others only if there is no potential harm to oneself b. Assisting others at some cost, with expectation of reward c. Assisting others at some cost, without expectation of reward 2. Who are people more likely to help? a. Non-kin who they are close to and care about more than kin b. Kin with high degrees of genetic relatedness c. Strangers 3. Which statement varied by participant? a. Effect of genetic relatedness on emotional closness b. Effect of emotional closeness on altruism c. Effect of genetic relatedness and age on alttruism.

POTENTIAL TEST QUESTIONS TRUE/FALSE: 1. Emotional closeness was an ultimate cause in the study. 2. Emotional closeness, genetic relatedness, and willingness to act altruistically was tested on a mediated model. 3. Studies show that individuals were more likely to act altruistically toward their spouses than toward others when they shared higher degrees of genetic relatedness.

References Korchmaros, J. D., & Kenny, D. A. (2001). Emotional closeness as a mediator of the effect of genetic relatedness on altruism. Psychological Science, 12 (3),