Social Psychology: Prosocial Behavior, Aggression, and Eyewitness Testimony

What is prosocial behavior?

Actions intended to benefit others.

What is kin selection?

Helping biological relatives because it promotes genetic survival.

Why do people often help family or close friends?

Due to evolutionary motives.

What is reciprocal altruism?

Helping with the expectation of future return.

What motivates true altruism according to Batson?

Empathy and perspective-taking, not self-benefit.

What is empathy?

Understanding and feeling another's emotions.

Do animals show empathy?

Many species show empathy-like responses.

What does the Negative State Relief Model suggest?

People help to reduce their own negative emotions.

What are the rewards of helping?

Can be explicit (praise, recognition) or implicit (feeling good, social approval).

What is Batson's Empathy-Altruism Model?

True empathy requires perspective taking.

What did the Katie Study (Stocks et al., 2009) demonstrate?

Empathy leads to genuine altruism.

What was significant about the Kitty Genovese case?

It inspired research on helping due to bystander inaction.

What is the bystander effect?

The presence of others reduces the likelihood of helping.

What are the steps in the 5-Step Model of Helping?

Notice the situation, interpret as an emergency, take responsibility, decide how to help, help.

What did the Seminary Students Study (Darley & Batson, 1973) find?

People in a hurry helped less, even when thinking about the Good Samaritan.

How do good and bad moods affect helping?

Good moods can increase helping; bad moods can also increase helping if it alleviates distress.

What personality traits are associated with helping?

Empathy and agreeableness.

Does wealth predict higher helping behavior?

Wealth does NOT reliably predict higher helping.

How does attractiveness affect helping?

More attractive people receive more help.

What is identity fusion?

Strong merging of personal and group identity leads to higher willingness to help in-group.

What did the Jogger Study (Levine et al., 2005) reveal?

People help more when they share identity with the victim.

How do gender roles influence helping behavior?

Men and women help in different ways due to gender socialization.

What types of aggression exist?

Physical, verbal, and psychological.

What is the difference between proactive and reactive aggression?

Proactive is instrumental and planned; reactive is angry and impulsive.

What cultural factors influence violence?

Honor cultures encourage aggression when status is threatened.

What are the gender differences in aggression?

Boys exhibit more physical aggression; girls exhibit more relational aggression.

What personality traits are linked to aggression?

Impulsivity, poor self-control, high irritability.

What is the Dark Tetrad?

Narcissism, Machiavellianism, Psychopathy, Sadism, associated with aggression.

How is testosterone related to aggression?

It is linked to aggression and dominance patterns.

What is the cycle of violence?

Violence in families/communities leads to the next generation learning aggression.

What does Bandura's Social Learning Theory state?

People learn aggression through observation.

What was the outcome of the Bobo Doll Study (1961)?

Children imitated adult aggression toward the doll.

What is the Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis?

Frustration leads to aggression.

What situational influences can distort eyewitness testimony?

Poor lighting, distance, stress, and alcohol.

What is the weapon-presence effect?

Attention drawn to a weapon reduces memory for the perpetrator.

What is the cross-race identification bias?

People identify faces of other races less accurately.

What did Loftus & Palmer's (1974) study demonstrate?

Wording of questions can distort memory.

What is the confidence-accuracy relationship in eyewitness testimony?

High confidence does not guarantee correct memory.

What factors increase false confessions?

Tiredness, hunger, stress, poor memory, and being told false evidence exists.

What is voir dire in jury selection?

The process where judges/lawyers screen for bias.

What is the impact of peremptory challenges?

Jurors can be excluded for almost any reason, often influenced by stereotypes.

What is the role of the foreperson in a jury?

The leader of the jury who announces the verdict.

What are the steps of jury deliberation?

Share information, discuss evidence, vote.

What is the significance of in-group favoritism in jury decisions?

It can lead to leniency or harsher judgments based on race.

What is the impact of outside information on jurors?

Illegally obtained evidence can influence jurors even when told to ignore it.

What must occur for empathy and altruism according to Batson?

Perspective taking.