SOCPSY - 12 HELPING

Altruism

A motive to increase another’s welfare without conscious regard for one’s self-interests.

Social-exchange theory

The theory that human interactions are transactions that aim to maximize one’s rewards and minimize one’s costs.

Egoism

A self-serving motive (supposedly underlying all behavior) to increase one’s own welfare. The opposite of altruism, which aims to increase another’s welfare

Reciprocity norm

An expectation that people will help, not hurt, those who have helped them.

Social capital

The mutual support and cooperation enabled by a social network.

Social-responsibility norm

An expectation that people will help those needing help.

Kin selection

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

Direct reciprocity

“We scratch each other’s backs.”

Indirect reciprocity

“I’ll scratch your back, you scratch someone’s, and someone will scratch mine.”

Group selection

“Back-scratching groups survive.”

Empathy

The vicarious experience of another’s feelings; putting oneself in another’s shoes.

Pluralistic ignorance

Ignorance that others are thinking and feeling what we are.

Bystander effect

The finding that a person is less likely to provide help when there are other bystanders.

Moral exclusion

The perception of certain individuals or groups as outside the boundary within which one applies moral values and rules of fairness.

Overjustification effect

The result of bribing people to do what they already like doing; they may then see their actions as externally controlled rather than intrinsically appealing.