Prosocial Behavior and Aggression Review

This set of flashcards covers the concepts, definitions, and examples related to prosocial behavior, aggression, coping strategies, health predictors, and more, preparing the student for their exam.

What is prosocial behavior?

Any behavior that is intended to benefit another person.

What is the bystander effect and what event started research on this topic?

Bystander Effect → phenomenon where helping behavior is inhibited by the presence of other potential helpers. The Kitty Genovese case started research on this topic.

Describe the helping behavior experiment with smoke released.

Participants were tested on whether they would report smoke released in a room, depending on whether they were alone or with others. The independent variable was presence or absence of others, the dependent variable was whether they reported the smoke. Results show participants were more likely to report when alone.

What is pluralistic ignorance in the context of helping behavior?

No one else seems worried, so why should I? (Step 2 of the helping process).

What is audience inhibition?

Fear of what others think, causing hesitation to act (Step 5 of the helping process).

What factors increase helping behavior?

People are more likely to help when having a good or bad day; helping can maintain a good mood or improve one's mood after a bad day.

What is the relationship between the number of people present in an emergency and helping behavior?

The more people present, the less likely helping behavior will occur.

Define empathy and its two components.

Empathy is understanding or vicariously experiencing another person's perspective, with two components: Cognitive empathy (understanding another person's mental state) and Affective empathy (understanding another person's emotions).

What is the empathy-altruism hypothesis?

It suggests that empathetic concern for someone in need leads to altruistic helping.

Compare altruistic and egoistic motives for prosocial behavior.

Altruistic motive is other-oriented; egoistic motive is self-oriented.

What social norms guide helping behavior?

Norm of reciprocity, Norm of social responsibility, and Norm of fairness.

What psychological perspective underlies kin selection?

Evolutionary psychology, which suggests helping relatives increases the chances of survival for shared genes.

Define reciprocal altruism.

Helping others with the expectation they will help you.

Define audience inhibition.

Reluctance to help in front of others due to fear of judgment.

Define diffusion of responsibility.

Feeling less responsible for helping when others are present.

Define kin selection.

The likelihood of helping those related to you by DNA.

How is affect (mood) related to helping behavior?

Good mood: People help to maintain it; Bad mood: People help to feel better about themselves.

What are the pros of the textbook definition of aggression?

Can be used for self-defense, achieving goals, and deterrence.

What are the cons of the textbook definition of aggression?

Can cause harm, escalate conflicts, lead to social isolation, and create negative emotions.

Define violence.

Extreme acts of aggression.

Define anger.

Negative emotional response to perceived harm (internal).

Define hostility.

Negative attitude toward someone (linked to health concerns).

What personality traits predict aggressive behaviors?

Low agreeableness, high neuroticism, narcissism, impulsivity, and Type A personality.

Compare proactive and reactive aggression.

Proactive aggression is planned and associated with Machiavellianism. Reactive aggression is impulsive and linked to narcissism and psychopathy.

How do men and women display aggression and violence?

Men are more likely to engage in physical violence; Women are more likely to engage in relational violence.

How do cortisol and testosterone relate to aggression?

Higher testosterone levels are linked to increased aggression, while low cortisol combined with high testosterone also correlates with higher aggression.

How does serotonin influence aggressive tendencies?

Low serotonin levels are linked to increased aggression.

How does temperature relate to aggression?

Higher aggression rates are found in hotter climates, locations, and seasons.

What is a 'culture of honor'?

A culture that emphasizes defending one’s reputation, leading to aggressive responses to perceived threats.

What does research suggest about the role of media in violence/aggression?

Children imitate aggressive behavior they observe (Bobo Doll Study) and violent video games are linked to increased aggression.

What does research suggest about corporal punishment?

Corporal punishment is linked to increased aggression in children over time.

Compare the Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis and the General Aggression Model.

Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis explains why frustration leads to aggression; General Aggression Model integrates various factors.

Compare the weapon effect and the weapon-focus effect.

Weapon Effect: Mere presence of a weapon increases aggression. Weapon-Focus Effect: Witnesses focus on the weapon during a crime.

What are the three theories of Schadenfreude?

Rivalry Schadenfreude, Aggression Schadenfreude, Justice Schadenfreude.

What does the text recommend as ways of preventing violence?

Early intervention, parental guidance, education programs, reduce media violence, promote social support, etc.

What are the different types of narcissism?

Grandiose narcissism and Vulnerable narcissism.

What are the three components of the 'dark triad'?

Narcissism, Psychopathy, and Machiavellianism.

What are the leading causes of death in the U.S.?

Heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries, chronic lower respiratory disease, stroke.

What are categories of predictors of physical health?

Biological, behavioral, psychological, social, and environmental factors.

Explain the biopsychosocial model of health.

Health is influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors.

Define stress and its two components.

Stress is the physical and emotional response to perceived taxing demands; components are affective and physical arousal.

What are the phases of the stress and coping process?

Phase 1: Alarm, Phase 2: Resistance, Phase 3: Exhaustion.

Compare major life events and daily hassles.

Major life events are big changes that cause stress, daily hassles are small annoyances that can accumulate and be damaging.

Compare problem-focused, emotion-focused, and relationship-focused coping.

Problem-focused: Directly addressing the problem; Emotion-focused: Dealing with emotions first; Relationship-focused: Seeking social support.

What is social support and how is it related to stress?

Social support is help from others; it can buffer stress.

How does a person’s regulatory focus affect health message adherence?

Promotion-focused individuals respond better to gain messages; prevention-focused better to loss-avoidance messages.

Explain the decision to get a flu vaccine using the Volunteer’s Dilemma.

In the Volunteer’s Dilemma, one person’s action (getting the flu shot) benefits everyone.

Define and provide real-world examples of each type of social support.

Emotional: Showing empathy (e.g., a friend listening post-breakup). Instrumental: Practical help (e.g., driving someone to the doctor). Informational: Giving advice (e.g., a nurse explaining medication). Esteem: Boosting self-esteem (e.g., pointing out someone's strengths).