Social Psych- Ch 12

Social exchange theory

human interactions are transations that aim to maximize rewards and minimize costs

External rewards

money, status

Internal rewards

do good, feel good

feel good, do good

Reduction of guilt experiment

In a study where people either lied or told the truth they were given an option to help. The liar spent about 63 minutes helping while the participant who told the truth only helped for 2 minutes.

Reciprocity norm

expectation that people will help those who have helped them

Social-responsibility norm

expectation that people will help those needing help

Findings on attribution

not their fault=help

their own fault=no help

Evolutionary psychology

genetic relatedness predicts helping

• kin selection, reciprocity, group selection

What our willingness to help is influenced by

self serving and selfish considerations

When will we help

number of bystanders, time pressure, similarity

Bystander effect

a person is less likely to provide help when there are other bystanders

Steps to help

1. notice the situation

2. interpret as an emergency

3. assume responsibility

Time pressures

people are less likely to help when in a hurry

Similarity

we tend to help those whom we percieve as being similar to us

Who will help

• personality trait of agreeableness

• sex differences

  • men are more likely to help in dangerous situations

  • women are more likely when social support is needed

• religious faith

How can we increase helping

reduce ambiguity, increase responsibility

social altruism

• teaching moral inclusion

• modeling altruism in media and real life