lecture 16- prosocial behavior and cooperation

prosocial behavior

any act designed to help others

altruism

unselfish behavior that benefits others w/o regard to consequences for oneself

happiness motive

helping others makes us feel good

social motive

helping others gives us esteem and respect, status, and praise

reciprocity motive

we help those who help us

evolutionary motives

helping others can be adaptive

• kin selection

kin selection

we are more likely to help those who share our genes

personal distress

watching someone suffer = distress for us

negative state relief hypothesis

people help to lessen their distress; people help others primarily to alleviate their own negative emotions or moods

• giving ppl another way to feel better = less likely to help

• believing it won’t make you feel better = less likely to help

empathy

an other-oriented emotional response elicited by and congruent w/ the perceived welfare of someone else

• identifying w/ someone in need and “feeling” their pain

empathy-altruism hypothesis

the more empathy felt for a person in need, the more altruistic motivation to see the need relieved (to help)

• suggests that helping motivated by genuine concern for other person’s well-being

cooperation

the coordination of multiple individuals toward a goal that benefits the entire group

prisoner’s dilemma

explores how individuals choose between cooperation and self-interest, even when cooperation would yield the best outcome

• compares cooperation to rational self-interest models

rational self-interest models

individuals make decisions by evaluating the costs and benefits of different options to maximize their own personal advantage

social value orientation (SVO)

one’s preference when dividing resources between themselves and others

• 3 categories people fall into

  1. cooperative → associated w/ commuting to work using public transportation and more frequent prosocial behavior

  2. individualistic

  3. competitive

situational influences in cooperation

• open communication → verbal, explicit commitments to cooperate predict greater cooperation (persists even when final decision anonymous)

• social trust

• group identity

• culture

social trust

belief that another person’s actions will be beneficial to one’s own interests; belief that others will act in trustworthy and reliable manner (essential for groups to work together effectively towards common goals)

• individual behaviors and reputation can impact trust and future cooperation

decision model of helping behavior

5 hurdles to cross before helping occurs

1. notice the event

2. interpret event as emergency → ambiguity reduces likelihood of helping

   • pluralistic ignorance

3. take responsibility

   • bystander effect

4. must know how to give help

5. must decide to help

   • social exchange theory

pluralistic ignorance

individuals misinterpret the beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors of others in their group; the collective belief in a false norm created by the ambiguous behavior of others

• occurs when ppl privately hold dissenting views but believe that majority of group holds opposite view

  • ex: “no one seems to think it’s an issue”

• married vs strangers study

  • “i don’t know you” = 65% helped

  • “i don’t know why I married you” = 19% helped

bystander effect

presence of others reduces one’s sense of responsibility for helping

• diffusion of responsibility → feel less responsible for taking action when others present

• seizure study (Darley & Latane)

  • alone = 85% helped

  • 3 people = 62% helped

  • 6 people = 31% helped

improving chances for getting help

make your need clear (reduce ambiguity) & ask a specific person (avoid diffusion of responsibility)