1. Whom do we help? When do we help? Why do we help?
Prosocial Behavior
Whom do we help?
When do we help?
Why do we help?

2. Prosocial Behavior
Voluntary behavior that is carried out to benefit another person

3. Whom Do We Help?

4. Genetic Determinism Model
Behavior is driven by genetic attributes that evolved because they enhanced the probability of transmitting one’s genes to subsequent generations
Kin Selection

5. Whom do we help?
Similar Others

6. Whom do we help?
Deserving Others
Just-World Belief

7. Whom do we help?
Communal Relationships: Those in which people’s primary concern is with the welfare of the other person. Exchange Relationships: Those in which people’s primary concern is with equity.

8. When Do We Help?

9. Kitty Genovese

10. Bystander Effect
People are less likely to offer help when they are in the presence of other than when they are alone

11. Bystander-Intervention Model
Notice
STOP NO
YES

12. Notice An Emergency Darley & Batson, 1973 The Good Samaritans The more
pressure,
the less
helpful

13. Bystander-Intervention Model
Notice
YES
STOP NO
STOP
Interpret NO
YES

14. Interpret An Emergency
Pluralistic Ignorance
Tendency of bystanders in an emergency to rely on what other bystanders do and say

15. Interpret An Emergency
Pluralistic Ignorance
Tendency of bystanders in an emergency to rely on what other bystanders do and say
Reported
problem
less
when
alone
w/others
ALONE

16. Bystander-Intervention Model
Notice
YES
STOP NO
STOP
Interpret
YES NO
Responsible
STOP NO
YES

17. Assume Responsibility
Diffusion of Responsibility
Belief that the presence of people in a situation makes one less personally responsible
The presence of
others reduced the
tendency to help

18. Bystander-Intervention Model
Notice
YES
STOP NO
STOP
Interpret
YES NO
Responsible
STOP NO
YES
Know
STOP NO
YES

19. WHY Do We Help?

20. Prosocial Motivation
The motivation to increase another person’s welfare

21. Arousal: Cost-Reward Model
Don’t Help
Emergency
Arousal
Weigh Costs & Benefits
Help

22. Arousal: Cost-Reward Model
Cost of Helping
Cost of not helping
Action
Intervene
No Intervene

23. Source of Arousal Egoistic Helping
When a helper seeks to increase his or her own welfare by helping another
Altruistic Helping
When a helper seeks to increase another’s welfare and expects nothing in return

24. Why We Help: Altruism Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis
Proposal that prosocial behavior is motivated solely by the desire to help someone in need
Tended to help
only when it was
difficult to escape