Psy 220- Altruism

Altruism

Three terms are commonly used in the broad research area that investigates positive interpersonal action: pro-social behaviour, helping behaviour, and altruism.

Pro-social behaviour

broadest of the three; it refers to any behaviour that can be construed as consistent with the norms of a given society

Helping behaviour

refers simply to any behaviour that provides some benefit to its recipient, even if the helper gets something in return

Altruism

behaviour that not only provides benefits to its recipient but also provides no benefits to the actor and even incurs some costs.

Egotism

theory that suggests that no “helpful” behaviour occurs without some kind of reward. Egotism suggests that real altruism doesn’t exist.

Sociobiological Approaches to Altruism

part of our biological make-up, its an evolutionary adaptation that contributes to the survival of a species

Neoteny Theory

altruism is based on an innate protective instinct – a biological imperative to defend babies and children that extends to those who might remind us of babies based on visual or other perceptual cues

Counter-evidence of Neoteny

phenomena like child abuse and child poverty are fairly strong counter-arguments vs. the claim that we have an innate, reflexive compulsion to help the child-like.

Mood effects

mood influences likelihood of prosocial behaviors. Being in a good mood or feeling bad promotes helpful behaviours.

Vicarious Distress

Observing another person’s distress evokes vicarious distress in ourselves

Reactions to Distress

Helping, Distance, Aggression, Humor.

Exchange Theory & Reciprocity

Social exchange model examines social interactions as forms of exchange, not unlike economic transactions. reciprocity is a social rule that compels us treat other the way they treat us and to seek balance in terms of social exchanges

norm of reciprocity

when someone helps us, we feel compelled to provide something in return. Since we prefer “equity” or “balance” in our relationships with others we almost reflexively reward small acts of kindness with praise of expressions of gratitude.

psychological debt

Since being in another person’s debt is uncomfortable, we are motivated to reduce that discomfort by repaying the debt.

status differentials

does accepting help make me seem incapable, incompetent, powerless, poor, or pitiful?

Enduring relationships

more forgiving when it comes to imbalances. Due to balance being perceived in different ways other than monetary, and less desire to end relationship.

Catherine Genovese

28 year old bar manager who was physically and sexually assaulted while walking from her parking lot to her apartment building after working an evening shift at the bar.

Latane and Darley → we need to consider multiple factors regarding bystanders

Bystanders/Latane/Darley→ Factor 1

in order to respond to an emergency, a person needs to notice that something is happening that might require a response

Bystanders/Latane/Darley→ Factor 2

potential responder does notice that something out of the ordinary is happening, they need to decide if that “something” is an emergency.

Bystanders/Latane/Darley→ Factor 3

once the person concludes that there is an emergency they need to decide whether it is their responsibility to do something to help. The number of bystanders reduces the odds that any of them will respond due to diffusion of responsibility

Bystanders/Latane/Darley→ Factor 4

if decided that they are responsible, then they need to determine if they know how to respond and/or are capable of doing so.

Bystanders/Latane/Darley→ Factor 5

need to decide on a plan of action and act on it.

Latane & Darley Experiment

a participant is placed in a room to perform a bogus task for 40 minutes. At some point a smoke machine blows visible smoke under the door or the room. Test → to see if someone alerts others.

Experimental conditions for Latane/Darley Exper.

participant is alone in a room, there are two other participants in addition to the one being studied, the participant is in a room with two confederates who don’t respond to the smoke.

Results of “alone” condition → Latane/Dar Exper.

70% of participants alerted someone outside of the room about the smoke

Results of “with other participants” group→ Latane/Dar Exper.

providing support for the diffusion of responsibility hypothesis

Results of “confederates” condition→ Latane/Dar Exper.

only 10% of respondents reported the smoke – suggesting that they used social information to determine if there was an emergency.

Ways of reducing Bystander Effect

Awareness campaign, Simplifying emergency contacts, training, Efficacy.