ch. 12 helping (prosocial behavior)

helping and prosocial behavior influence happiness

helping boosts to self worth explains do good/feel good effect

people help because it makes them feel good; helping can be inherently rewarding

feedback loop

process of getting feedback from people and integrating that into decision making and behavior

sad people vs happy people helping

benefit of helping can reduce or avoid negative emotions

happy people are helpful people

positive moods are conducive to positive thoughts and self esteem

social exchange theory

the theory that human interactions are transactions that aim to maximize one’s rewards and minimize one’s cost

reciprocity and social responsibility norms

we should return help, not harm, to those who help us

often, we help others because we ought to—social expectations prescribe proper behavior

we “invest” help in others and expect dividends

social capital

altruism

a motive to increase another’s welfare without conscious regard for one’s self-interests; the person is concerned and helpful even when no benefits are offered or expected in return

empathy altruism hypothesis

empathy can motivate genuinely altruistic behavior, meaning helping others out of a sincere concern for their well-being; even when their helping is anonymous or their own mood will be unaffected

case against altruism; role of “oneness”

even when acting on empathy, trying to make the self feel better

when individuals feel a greater overlap with others, they are more likely to experience empathetic concern and be motivated to help—can reduce psychological distance, making it easier to connect with and care for those in need

bystander effect

a person is less likely to provide help in an emergency when there are other bystanders present

kitty genovese

march 1964- kitty genovese was attacked and murdered on her way home in NYC; initial reports said 38 people witnessed the attack, but no one helped (although updated reported refute this)

steps to intervene in an emergency

notice an event

interpret event as an emergency

assume responsibility

know how to help

decide to help

pluralistic ignorance- a false impression of what most other people are thinking or feeling or how they are responding

diffusion of responsibility- a person is less likely to take responsibility for action or inaction when other bystanders or witnesses are present

how to increase helping in an emergency

reduce ambiguity—make it clear help is needed

reduce diffusion of responsibility—single out an individual

indicate what is needed—tell them what to do

how to increase helping and prosocial behavior via persuasion and social learning

be persuasive—personalized appeals and make a small request that feels bad to refuse

learn by doing—helpful actions promote the self-perception that one is caring