Prosocial Behaviour: Why Do People Help?

A collection of flashcards derived from the lecture notes on prosocial behaviour, exploring reasons behind helping, factors influencing it, and scenarios affecting altruism.

What is prosocial behaviour?

Any act performed with the goal of benefiting another person.

Define altruism.

The desire to help others, even if it involves a cost to the helper.

What is kin selection?

Behaviour that helps a genetic relative is favoured by natural selection.

What is the norm of reciprocity?

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

At what age can reciprocity be detected in infants?

As young as 21 months.

What theory argues that prosocial behaviour can be based on self-interest?

Social exchange theory.

What does the empathy-altruism hypothesis state?

When we feel empathy for a person, we will help them purely for altruistic reasons.

What is empathy?

The ability to experience events and emotions the way another person experiences them.

In the low empathy condition, who did people help according to Toi and Batson (1982)?

People helped when it benefitted them.

In the high empathy condition, what did people do regardless of costs or benefits?

People helped regardless of the costs or benefits.

Who is more likely to perform acts of bravery and heroism, men or women?

Men.

Who is more likely to give supportive long-term help, men or women?

Women.

What is the finding regarding socioeconomic status (SES) and helpfulness?

People of lower SES are more helpful than those of higher SES.

What increased helpfulness among high SES participants in studies by Piff and colleagues?

Priming with a film clip on child poverty.

Are people more likely to help in-group or out-group members?

In-group members.

How do collective societies differ from individualist cultures in terms of helping?

They are more likely to help in-group members and less likely to help out-group members.

What common theme in world religions promotes prosocial behaviour?

The "Golden Rule."

What effect does a good mood have on helping behaviour?

People are more likely to help when they are in a good mood.

What is the negative-state relief hypothesis?

People help to alleviate their own sadness and distress.

How does environment affect prosocial behaviour between rural and urban areas?

People in rural areas usually help more than those in urban areas.

What is the urban-overload hypothesis?

People living in cities avoid overload by keeping to themselves.

What is the bystander effect?

The greater the number of bystanders who witness an emergency, the less likely any one of them will help.

What are the five decision-making steps before helping according to Latané & Darley?

Not provided; need to reference the decision tree.

What is pluralistic ignorance?

Bystanders assume nothing is wrong in an emergency because no one else looks concerned.

What happens to an individual's sense of responsibility as the number of witnesses increases?

It decreases.

How can helping behaviour be increased in individuals?

Teaching about the bystander effect and determinants of prosocial behaviour.

What can encourage prosocial behaviour in children?

Rewarding prosocial acts with praise, smiles, and hugs.

What role do parents play in encouraging prosocial behaviour?

Behaving prosocially themselves to model behaviour for children.

What is a factor that makes people less likely to help?

Bystander apathy due to the presence of others.

Why are low SES individuals more likely to help?

They tend to develop more communal self-concepts.

What can priming with religion increase?

Prosocial behaviour.

What happens to helpfulness when individuals feel guilty or sad?

They are more likely to help.