Helping and Altruism

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to altruism, helping behaviors, and the factors influencing them.

Altruism

Behavior designed to increase another person’s welfare without direct reward.

Reciprocity norm

The social norm that implies if someone helps us, we should help them in the future.

Empathy

An emotional response where a person understands and feels another person's distress.

Personal distress

Negative feelings experienced when witnessing another's suffering.

Pluralistic ignorance

The phenomenon where individuals in a group mistakenly believe that others have a better understanding of a situation.

Diffusion of responsibility

The tendency for individuals to feel less responsible to act when others are present.

Kin selection

The evolutionary strategy that favors reproductive success of genetic relatives.

Social responsibility norm

The expectation that individuals should help those who are dependent on them.

Autonomy-oriented help

Support that allows the recipient to retain independence and encourages them to help themselves.

Dependency-oriented help

Support that can lead the recipient to feel incompetent or dependent.

Affect

Emotional states that can influence helping behavior, such as positive or negative moods.

Good Samaritan laws

Laws that protect individuals who provide assistance to those in need from legal liability.

Evolutionary perspective on helping

The view that altruism and helping behaviors may enhance evolutionary success of individuals and species.

Altruistic personality

A set of traits associated with a consistent willingness to help others.

Self-concern vs. other-concern

The balance between acting in one's own interest versus considering the needs of others in helping behavior.

Situational variables in helping

Factors such as the social context, group size, and emergency clarity that affect the likelihood of helping.

Cultural norms of helping

Differences in helping behavior based on cultural beliefs, such as individualism vs. collectivism.

Social learning mechanisms

The idea that people learn to help through reinforcement and modeling from others.

Aim to increase helping

Using knowledge of altruism to encourage helping behaviors in oneself and others.

Motivations for volunteering

Reasons individuals offer themselves for altruistic behaviors, which can include self-benefit and the desire to help others.