PSYCH 221 Exam 4 PSU

Prosocial Behavior

Any act performed with the goal of benefiting another person

Altruism

The desire to help another person even if it involves a cost to the helper

Evolutionary Psychology

Norm of reciprocity

Kin Selection

Kin Selection

The idea that behaviors that help a genetic relative are favored by natural selection

Norm of Reciprocity

The expectation that helping others will increase the likelihood that they will help us in the future

Social Exchange Theory

Max rewards minimize the cost

Empathy

Putting ourselves in the shoes of another person and experiencing events and emotions the way that person experiences them

Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis

Batson

When we feel empathy for another person for purely altruistic reasons, regardless of what we have to gain

Altruistic Personality

The qualities that cause an individual to help out in a wide variety of situations

Out-Groups

Groups that a person is not a member of

In-Groups

Groups that a person is a member of

Urban Overload Hypothesis

If you put urban dwellers in a calmer, less stimulating environment, they would be as likely as anyone else to reach out to others

Bystander Effect

The greater the number of bystanders who witness an emergency, the less likely any one of them is to help the victim

5 Steps for deciding to help

Noticing an event

Interpreting the event as an emergency

Assuming responsibility

Knowing how to help

Deciding to help

Aggression

Intentional behavior aimed at causing either physical or psychological pain

Hostile Aggression

An act of aggression stemming from feelings of anger and is aimed at inflicting pain or injury

Instrumental Aggression

There is an intention to hurt another person, but hurting takes place as a means to some goal other than causing pain

Social-Cognitive Learning Theory

We learn social behavior, from aggression to altruism, in large part by observing others and imitating them

Frustration-Aggression Theory

People's perception that they are being prevented from attaining a goal will increase the probability of an aggressive response

Weapons Effect

An increase in aggression that can occur because of the mere presence of a gun or other weapons

Sexual Scripts

Sets of implicit rules that specify proper sexual behavior for a person in a given situation, varying with the person's gender, age, religion, social status, and peer groups

Catharsis

"blowing off steam"

By behaving aggressively or watching others do so- relieves built-up anger and aggressive energy and hence reduces the likelihood of further aggressive behavior

Prejudice

A hostile or negative attitude toward people in a distinguishable group, based solely on their membership in that group

Discrimination

Unfair treatment of members of a stigmatized group solely because of their membership in that group

Implicit Association Test (IAT)

Measures the speeds of people's positive and negative associations to a target group

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

An expectation of one's own or another person's behavior that comes true because of the tendency of the person holding it to act in ways that bring it about

Stereotype Threat

The apprehension experienced by members of a group that their behavior might confirm a cultural stereotype

Normative Conformity

The tendency to go along with the group in order to fulfill the group's expectations and gain acceptance

Institutional Discrimination

Practices that discriminate, legally or illegally, against a minority group by virtue of it ethnicity, gender, culture, age, sexual orientation, or other target of societal or company prejudice

Social Identity

The part of a person's self-concept that is based on his or her identification with a nation, religious or political group, occupation, or other social affiliation

Ethnocentrism

The belief that one's own ethnic group, nation, or religion is superior to all others

In-Group Bias

The tendency to favor members of one's own group and give them special preference over people who belong to other groups; the group can be temporary and trivial as well as significant

Out-Group Homogeneity

The perception that individuals in the out-group are more similar to each other than they really are, as well as more similar than members of the in-grop are

Blaming the Victim

The tendency to blame individuals for their victimization, typically motivated by a desire to see the world as a fair place

Realistic Conflict Theory

The idea that limited resources lead to conflict between groups and result in increased prejudice and discrimination