1. LO #5: Explain cross- cultural differences in pro-social behavior

2.  In general, research supports the idea that culture does play a role in one’s likelihood to help in some situations.

3.  Levine Study: Measuring Helping Behavior Across Cultures.

4. Based on a study of children ages 3-11 in 6 countries, cross-cultural differences in pro- social behavior are correlated with the children’s level of responsibilities in family life (Whiting, 1979).

5.  Helping was least likely in communities where the children completed school and were not often given household chores or family farming responsibilities.  Caring for younger children provides an opportunity for pro-social behavior through modeling and social norms (Graves & Graves, 1985).  Kenyan, Mexican, and Filipino children scored high on pro-social behavior.  U.S. children scored the lowest.

6.  We are more likely to help members of our own rather than another ethnic group (Katz, 1981).  While Chinese and Japanese participants offered more help than did U.S. participants to others whom they perceived to be from their in-group, they were less likely than Americans to help others perceived to be from an out- group (Bond & Leung, 1988).