Prosocial Behaviour Lecture Notes

Flashcards covering the definitions, forms, situational factors, and theoretical models of prosocial behaviour based on the class transcript.

Prosocial Behaviour

Behaviour defined by society as generally beneficial to other people and/or to the ongoing political or cultural system.

McDougall (1900)

An early researcher who showed interest in prosocial behaviour, though interest later declined.

Helping

Any action that has consequences of providing some benefit to or improving the well-being of another person.

Casual helping

A form of helping that involves providing a small favour.

Substantial personal helping

A form of helping that requires considerable effort on the part of the helper.

Emotional helping

Helping that involves providing emotional support to another person.

Emergency helping

A form of helping directed toward an acute problem.

Altruism

Helping purely out of the desire to benefit someone else, with no benefit (and often a cost) to oneself.

Cooperation

Acting together in a coordinated way in the pursuit of shared goals, joint activity enjoyment, or furthering a relationship.

Bystander effect

The phenomenon where an individual is more likely to help when they are the only witness to a situation.

Inverse relationship (Bystanders)

The principle that the greater the number of bystanders, the less likely anyone is to help.

Pluralistic ignorance

The act of looking to others to interpret a situation when determining if help is needed.

Diffusion of responsibility

The belief that someone else will take responsibility in a situation where multiple bystanders are present.

Cost-Benefit analysis

A decision-making process where individuals weigh considerations to minimize costs (e.g., time, risk) and maximize benefits (e.g., social recognition).

Social norms

Rules for acceptable and non-acceptable behaviour in certain situations.

Reciprocity norm

A social norm where individuals feel inclined to help those who have helped them.

Social responsibility norm

A social norm where individuals feel inclined to help others who are dependent on them.

Personal norms

One’s individual feelings of moral obligation on how to behave in a certain situation.

Aversive arousal reduction

The drive to reduce the physiological arousal felt when witnessing an emergency, achieved by either helping or walking away.

Negative state relief model

A theory suggesting people provide help in order to reduce their own negative affect and make themselves feel better.

Empathy-altruism model

A theory suggesting that when negative affect is aroused and people feel empathy for the person in need, they help simply because the victim needs help.