Empathy & Prosocial Behavior

Effects on Helping - Experiment

• Recieved electric shocks and observed ingroup behavior and outgroup members receiving shocks and rated experiences of pain

• Watched ingroup and outgroup members receive shocks, but could decide between 3 options

• Take half of the pain (helping), Watch soccer video instead of helping (watch vid) or Watch the other recieve pain (watch pain

Measuring Bias in Neural Stimulation and Helping

Effects of Helping Experiment Results

People show an ingroup bias in helping. They are more likely to help ingroup members than outgroup menebers

Neural Activation in Pain Areas

People showed more activation in brain areas normally activated during the experience of pain when observing ingroup members than when observing out group members experiencing pain