Chapter 17: Prosocial and Antisocial Behaviour

lecture & textbook

attraction

positive feelings and evaluations we have towards other people

factors involved in attraction

familiarity, similarity, physical attractiveness, reciprocity

familiarity

we prefer people who we are familiar with

main finding of Westgate study

students in res asked to name 3 closest freinds, most said next door neighbours and those 2 doors down vs those in opposite hallways

similarity

we prefer people who are similar to us

main finding from study of familiarity

when someone attended the course more, they were more liked by students in the class

physical attractiveness

we are attracted to people we find physically attractive

the halo effect

this cognitive bias occurs when we attribute positive qualities like intelligence, kindness, success and morality to physically attractive individuals

reciprocity

we prefer people who reciprocate liking

self-disclosure

sharing intimate info and feelings with another person which signifies trust

social exchange theory

a relationship as a cost benefit calculation

reward (social exchange theory)

what am I getting out of this relationship?

cost (social exchange theory)

what is this relationship costing me?

comparison level (social exchange theory)

expectations about the ratio of cost to rewards that I deserve

bystander effect

a person who witnesses someone else in need is less likely to help when other bystanders are present

diffusion of responsibility

feeling less responsible because other people are able to help

pluralistic ignorance

assuming that nothing is wrong because no one else looks concerned

prejudice

negative attitude towards a group of people

3 components of prejudice

beliefs, emotions, actionse

beliefs (prejudice)

stereotypes about a group

emotions (prejudice)

feelings about a group

actions (prejudice)

discriminatory behaviour towards a group

scapegoating theory of prejudice

prejudice is the result of displaced frustration and/or fear

main finding of Sherif et al Robbers cave study

when contact between groups is cooperative and done on equal footing, you tend to see a reduction in prejudice

3 conditions for positive contact

equal status, common goals, opportunity for friendship

need to affiliate

innate need to associate with others

social exchanges

transfers of attention, info, affection, and favours in addition to personal info

triangular theory of love

different forms of love arise from different combinations of 3 basic components:

• intimacy

• passion

• commitment

romantic love

based on intimacy and high levels of passion

companionate love

intimacy and commitment but no passion

fatuous love

passion and commitment but no intimacy

evolutionary psychology

study of evolutionary origins of behaviour patterns

prosocial behaviour

any action that benefits another person, and there is a cost to the person providing the action

altruism

prosocial behaviour motivated by improving circumstances of others

empathy

when being faced with someone who is suffering, the individual experiences feelings that parallel

3 decision points before offering help (bystander effect)

noticing, defining an emergency, taking responsibility and acting

antisocial behaviour

behaviour that violates social norms and rights of others

aggression

antisocial acts that directly harm another person

bullying

behaviour that deliberately and repeatedly exposes a person to negative experiences

instinct

innate impulse that directs and motivates behaviour

frustration-aggression hypothesis

frustration leads to aggression

social learning theory

we learn to be aggressive through observation

social stereotypes

oversimplified perceptions of group members that neglects diversity

discrimination

biased actions towards particular group

microaggressions

subtle acts of discrimination that may not have negative intentions, but reflect perpetrators lack of awareness

racism

prejudice based on race

sexism

prejudice based on gender

ageism

prejudice based on age

heterosexism

belief heterosexuality is normal/better

ethnocentrism

placing one’s group at the centre as the standard for comparison

explicit prejudice

clearly expressed/out in the open

implicit prejudice

unconscious prejudiced thoughts and feelings

scapegoating

blaming person/group for the actions of others or for conditions not of their making

displaced aggression

hostilities triggered by frustration are redirected at “safer” targets

status inequalities

differences in power, prestige, privileges

authoritarian personality

ethnocentric, rigid, inhibition, oversimplification

dogmatism

unwarranted certainty in belief/opinion - close minded

dehumanization

belief that members of outgroup = less human and deserve hatred

self-stereotype

tendency to apply social stereotypes to oneself

stereotype threat

anxiety caused by fear of embodying and being judged by stereotypes

equal-status contact

interacting on equal footing without obvious power or status differences

superordinate goal

exceeds and overrides others, renders other goals as less important

individuating information

info that helps define person as an individual, rather than member of group/social category

just world beliefs

belief that people generally get what they deserve

social competition

rivalry amongst groups, each of which regards itself as superior to others