Social Psych 2 Lecture 9 Helping and Altruism

altriusm

any behavior designed to increase another’s welfare when there is no direct reward

controlled by amygdala/prefrontal cortex = emotion & regulation

increases with relation and similarities of the person/situation

reciprocal altruism

if we help others now, they will return the favor in the future (social exchange)

who is likely to be altruistic

empathic concern: other-oriented feelings of sympathy and concern for unfortunate (willing to swap places and irrespective of condition)

personal distress: self-oriented feelings of personal anxiety and unease in tense interpersonal settings (swap places in difficult situations to escape)

who is likely to receive altruism

identifiable victim effect creating emotional reaction, perceived impact/responsibiliy (better than statistical victim because identifiable = more engagement)

organ donation: ethical reasons to keep donor and recipient identities anonymous (responsibility increases likeliness to help, social loaf decreases likeliness because assume others can and will help)

identifiable victim effect

creating emotional reaction, perceived impact/responsibility (better than statistical victim because identifiable = more engagement)

when we are likely to be altruistic

Good Samaritan Study: when helping is less costly so we are more likely to do it and gain reputation as a high status who is able/willingt help (better and desirable)

equity and exchange = reciprocity norm/altruism: returning earlier help with the expectation of future return

social responsibility norm: should try to help others who need it even without expecting anything gin return (sense of duty and obligation as good humans to reach out and help others whenever we can)

When are we likely to NOT be altruistic

bystander non-intervention

bystander effect: social psychology phenomenon where the presence of others discourages them from intervening in an emergency situation

caused by fear of embarrassment, diffusion of responsibility, social loafing, normative influence, informational influence