Biological Explanations of Helping Behaviour

What is social responsibility?

An ethical framework suggesting individuals or organisations have an obligation to act for the benefit of society as a whole.

What is the main purpose of social responsibility?

To maintain a balance between economic growth and environmental or social well-being.

What is prosocial behaviour?

Behaviour that benefits another person or has positive social consequences.

What is altruism?

Helping another person with no expectation of reward and possibly at personal cost.

What is the biological explanation of helping behaviour based on?

Evolutionary theory suggesting altruism evolved to increase genetic survival.

What is inclusive fitness?

The total number of shared genes passed to future generations through individual and kin survival.

What does kin selection theory propose?

Individuals are more likely to help genetic relatives to promote the survival of shared genes.

Who developed the concept of kin selection?

Charles Darwin.

What is the relationship between genetic closeness and altruism in kin selection theory?

The closer the genetic relationship, the higher the likelihood of altruistic behaviour.

Why is altruism considered adaptive in kin selection theory?

Because it increases inclusive fitness and ensures gene continuation.

What are two main strengths of kin selection theory?

It is supported by evolutionary logic and evidence from animal studies.

What are three main limitations of kin selection theory?

It cannot explain helping strangers, is difficult to test in humans, and relies heavily on animal data.

Who proposed the selfish gene theory?

Richard Dawkins.

What does Dawkins’ selfish gene theory propose?

Organisms act to maximise the survival of their genes, not necessarily themselves.

How does the selfish gene theory explain apparent altruism?

As a gene-level strategy ensuring propagation of shared genes among relatives.

How does inclusive fitness relate to the selfish gene theory?

Helping relatives increases the survival of shared genes, enhancing inclusive fitness.

What perspective does the selfish gene theory adopt toward altruism?

That it is ‘selfish’ from the gene’s point of view.

What are two strengths of the selfish gene theory?

It offers a genetic-level explanation of altruism and aligns with cooperation among related animals.

What are three limitations of the selfish gene theory?

It is reductionist, lacks direct genetic evidence, and cannot explain helping of non-kin.

What overall critique applies to biological explanations of altruism?

They overemphasise genetics and neglect cognitive and sociocultural influences.

Why is altruism toward strangers difficult to explain biologically?

Because it provides no direct benefit to the helper’s genetic fitness.

What is the empirical challenge in testing evolutionary hypotheses in humans?

Genetic relatedness cannot be ethically or experimentally manipulated.

What type of validity issue applies to animal-based altruism findings used for humans?

Low ecological validity due to cross-species generalisation.