Social Psych Chapter 8: Altruism-Helping Others

Altruism

The motive to increase another's welfare without conscious regard for one's self-interest.

(Helping someone without expecting anything in return)

Can we be Altruistic?

- Many researchers believe no, even it's as simple as we feel good by doing good, we're getting something regardless.

- There's always an intrinsic reward to doing good deeds. Allows us to feel good.

Why do we help?

• Social exchange theory

• Social norms

• Evolutionary psych

• Compare and evaluate theories

Social Exchange theory

Theory that human interactions are transactions that aim to maximize one's rewards and minimize one's cost.

Rewards

Internal (we're good because we do good) or external (someone rewards you). Increases self-worth, reclaim a positive public image and reduces stress and guilt's.

Egoism

The idea that self-interest motives all behaviour.

Effects of location

Rural = more altruistic behaviours, why? Because it may get around, or you may bump into the person you didn't help.

Social exchange

• We could feel bad, or do good when one's attention is on others.

• Feel good and do good, happy people are helpful people.

• We do most on an unconscious level, without thinking of consequences.

Social Norms- Reciprocity Norm

An expectation that people will help, not hurt those who have helped them. Helps define the "social capital".

The Social Capital

Putting favours in the bank, the better you are to others the better people you'll expect them to be to you. To an extent this is true, like being a good friend vs someone who is not a good friend.

The Social Responsibility Norm

An expectation that people will help those dependent on them. Reponses are closely tied to attributions. Gender and receiving help. We're expected to help those who can't help themselves: elderly, children, disabilities, and those who can't provide to themselves

Evolutionary Psych:

Kin Protection

The idea that evolution has selected altruism toward one's close relatives to enhance the survival of mutually shared genes.

Evolutionary Psych: Reciprocity

• Helping another because of the expectation that the favour will be returned.

- Stronger in small, isolated groups

- Group selection

Comparing the theories of altruism: Genuine Altruism-

Empathy

•The vicarious experience of another's feelings; putting oneself in another's shoes (tied with Genuine Altruism) Different from sympathy, you feel sorry for someone, you understand distress but you're not able to feel how they feel.

• The more empathetic you are, the more likely you are to help someone out. (more altruistic)

When will we help?

• Number of bystanders - diffusion of responsibility

• Helping when someone else does

• Time pressures

. Similarity

Bystander effect

The finding that a person is less likely to provide help when there are other bystanders. Why, because of diffusion of responsibility?

o We need to notice they need help

o Interpret they need it (pluralistic ignorance)

o Assuming responsibility

When will we help? Specific.

• Helping when someone else does (helpful models)

• When time pressures allow

• And Similarity to the victim

Who helps?

•Personality

• Gender- interacts with the type of situation someone encounters

Who helps? Personality:

- Individual differences in helpfulness exists

- Predisposing traits: Emotionality, empathy and self-efficacy.

- Personality influences how particular people react to particular situations

- E.g: High self-monitoring people will tend to help if they'll be socially rewarded.

Can we increase helping?

• Reduce ambiguity, increase responsibility

• Enable guilt and concern for self-image (door-in-the-face)

- Socialize Altruism

Can we increase helping? Socialize Altruism (cont)

- Teach moral inclusion

- Model altruism

- Learn by doing

- Attribute helping behaviour to altruism (Overjustification effect)

- Learn/teach about altruism