Chapter 11: Prosocial Behavior

Prosocial Behavior

Any act performed with the goal of benefiting someone else.

Kin Selection

The evolutionary perspective where beings help others of their kind to ensure genetic material is passed on.

Reciprocal Altruism

People help others because it increases the odds of receiving help in return.

Social Exchange

A mental calculation of the benefits of helping versus the costs.

Empathy

An other-oriented emotional response that corresponds to perceiving someone’s suffering.

Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis

Feeling empathy for a person in need leads to altruistic motivation to help them.

Aversive Arousal

The unpleasant state experienced when witnessing someone in need, leading to a desire to help to reduce this discomfort.

Altruism

A motivational state where the primary goal is to benefit a person who needs help.

Bystander Effect

The phenomenon where the presence of others discourages an individual from intervening in an emergency.

Urban-Overload Hypothesis

In urban settings, the overwhelming stimuli lead individuals to minimize interactions, thus reducing helping behavior.

Five Steps to Helping in an Emergency

1. Noticing, 2) Interpreting, 3) Taking Responsibility, 4) Knowing How to Help, 5) Deciding to Implement Help.