Lecture 9- prosocial behaviour

What is the social identity model of collective action?

• Attitudes/behaviours more difficult to change in groups

• Must mobilise majority of group members for change

What are the 3 key factors which influence collective action?

• Perceived injustice

• Self-efficacy

• Social identity

What is pluralistic ignorance?

• Inaccurate perceptions of social or cultural norms

• Assumptions other in the group hold a different opinion

• While in reality, they all probably share the same opinion

What is self-efficacy?

Confidence in your ability to complete a specific task or achieve a particular goals

If self-efficacy is high, do we experience facilitation or inhibition?

Facilitation

If self-efficacy is low, do we experience facilitation or inhibition?

Inhibition

How is self-efficacy linked to collective action?

• If group’s self-efficacy is low

• No one has confidence to engage in collective action

• No change

Define prosocial behaviour

An action by an individual that is intended to benefit another individual or set of individuals

What are the 2 basic motives for helping?

• Functional approach (egosism)

• Altruistic approach (altruism)

What is the functional approach for helping (egoism)?

• People’s actions are motivated by some degree of self-interest

• Egotistic motivations for helping (e.g it benefits you)

What is the altruistic approach for helping (altruism)?

• Helping is the result of a desire to help another person purely for the other person’s benefit

• Regardless of benefit to self

What is kin selection?

Natural selection led to greater tendencies to help close kin than to help those with whom we have little genetic relationship

What processes are the basis for prosocial behaviour?

• Sociability

• Close attachment formation

What is reciprocal helping?

• An instinctive drive to help

• May indicate broader evolved tendency to be prosocial

• Can be found in many species such as vampire bats

How can reciprocal helping be advantageous?

Can provide adaptive advantages to individuals and groups (norms of reciprocity)

What is the biological basis of helping?

Heritability of prosocial tendencies (as seen in twin studies, though evidence is not definitive)

How do we learn about helping?

• Children exhibit helping as early as 18 months

• Operant conditioning

• Social or observational learning

What is social exchange theory?

People help others when benefits outweigh the potential costs

What is the decision to help determined by?

• Quick mental calculations involving consideration of benefits and costs

• Influenced by need to reduce arousal when someone in distress is seen

• May create a sense of well-being and happiness

• Also influenced by our own resources

How does time hinder helping?

• Time pressure

• When we are given a short timeframe to make a decision we tend to prioritise our own wellbeing

• Assume helping others is too much effort