Altruism & Prosocial Behaviour

A set of 40 vocabulary flashcards focusing on key terms and definitions related to altruism, prosocial behavior, and factors influencing helping behavior.

Altruism

Any act of voluntary self-sacrifice intended to benefit another person with no expectation of reward.

Prosocial Behaviour

Any act performed by an individual with the goal of benefiting another person.

Bystander Effect

A phenomenon where individuals do not offer help in an emergency when other people are present.

Inclusive Fitness

The concept that genes are selected not just at the individual level, but also in relation to the reproductive success of relatives.

Empathy-Altruism Model

A theory suggesting that people help others based on their emotional responses and empathy.

Social Exchange Theory

A theory that proposes social behavior is the result of an exchange process to maximize benefits and minimize costs.

Evolutionary Perspective

A viewpoint suggesting that behaviors evolved through natural selection.

Kitty Genovese

A victim of a murder in 1964 whose case highlighted the bystander effect and prompted research into helping behavior.

Negative State Relief Hypothesis

The idea that people help others to relieve their own negative emotions.

Genetic Closeness

The degree of genetic relatedness to another individual.

Emotional Closeness

The degree of emotional connection or attachment one feels towards another individual.

Cultural Differences in Helping

Variations in helping behavior influenced by cultural norms and values.

Bystander Apathy

The phenomenon where individuals in groups fail to offer help when witnessing emergencies.

Attribution Theory

A theory that suggests individuals consider reasons for others' need for help when deciding whether to assist.

Empathic Joy

The positive feeling derived from helping others and making a difference.

Situational Factors

Circumstances or variables in the environment that influence helping behavior.

Victim Responsibility

Perceptions of how responsible a victim is for their plight, influencing people's willingness to help.

Gino Bartali

An individual known for acts of altruism during the Nazi occupation of Italy.

Oscar Schindler

A businessman who saved the lives of more than a thousand Jewish refugees by employing them in his factories.

Evolutionary Theory of Helping

The theory that helping behaviors evolved as survival mechanisms benefiting the group.

Burnstein et al. (1994) Study

Research indicating that people are more likely to help closer relatives in emergencies.

Korchmaros & Kenny (2001) Study

Research showing that emotional closeness mediates the relationship between genetic closeness and willingness to help.

Wu et al. (2016) Study

Research comparing helping behavior of Taiwanese and US students in different family contexts.

Toi & Batson (1982) Experiment

A study demonstrating the impact of empathy on willingness to help others.

Latane & Darley's Experiment (1970)

Research showing how people are less likely to report emergencies in group situations due to the bystander effect.

Levine et al. (2010) Study

Research exploring the influence of gender identity on helping behavior.

Empathy vs. Egoism

The distinction between helping motivated by genuine concern for others and helping motivated by self-interest.

Overriding Cost-Benefit Analysis

The phenomenon where feelings of empathy compel individuals to help even when it is not beneficial to themselves.

Cultural Dissimilarity

Differences in cultural values that influence decision-making in helping behaviors.

Degree of Relatedness

The closeness of genetic connections, influencing helping behavior.

Hypothetical Scenarios

Imagined scenarios used in studies to examine people's willingness to help.

5 Minute Break

A pause in the session to allow participants to relax or refresh.

Altruistic Helping

Helping behavior that is motivated by concern for another's well-being.

Emotional Pathways to Helping

The psychological processes that enhance feelings of empathy and promote helping actions.

Evolutionary Explanations for Helping

The theories that link helping behavior to survival advantages.

Fire Emergency Scenario

A hypothetical situation used to study decision-making in urgent helping contexts.

Maladaptive Traits

Behaviors that do not promote survival or reproduction in natural selection.

Kin Selection

The idea that people are more likely to help those who are genetically related to them.

Action-Reaction Models

Frameworks that explain the relationship between emotional experiences and helping behavior.

Feedback on Helping

Information received from the recipient of help that may influence future helping behaviors.

Peer Influence on Helping

The impact that friends or colleagues have on an individual's decision to help.

Identity’s Role in Help Decisions

The importance of an individual's social identity in determining willingness to assist others.