PSY2042_Prosocial_Behaviour__Prejudice_and_Discrimination_1_
Acknowledgment of Country
MONASH University recognizes its Australian campuses are on unceded lands of the Kulin Nations.
Pays respects to the Elders, past and present.
Course Information
Lecturer: Dr Swati Mujumdar
Course Title: Prosocial Behaviour, Prejudice and Discrimination (PSY2042)
Prescribed Readings:
Chapter 11 – Prosocial Behaviour
Chapter 13 – Prejudice and Discrimination
Prosocial Behaviour
Definition
Prosocial behaviour refers to actions intended to benefit others, with no expectation of reward or compensation.
Defined as "voluntary behaviour intended to benefit another", including helping, sharing, donating, cooperating, and volunteering (Bergland, 2013).
Motivation to Help
Reflection on natural altruism inspired by disasters like bushfires and floods.
Types of helping behaviour:
Donating money, food, clothes, and helping wildlife.
Joining bush regeneration groups.
Theoretical Perspectives on Helping
Evolutionary Psychology
Explains social behaviours through genetic factors, promoting survival.
Kin Selection: Preference to help those related to us enhances gene propagation.
Reference: Simpson, J. A., & Beckes, L. (2010).
Reciprocity Norm
Helps others expecting future help in return.
Social obligation: Feeling compelled to assist those who have helped us.
Social Exchange Theory
Focuses on maximizing rewards and minimizing costs in helping behaviours.
Helping can be rewarding but may also entail risks and sacrifices.
Concept of Altruism
Altruism: Helping others even at a personal cost, driven by empathy.
Poses questions about the existence of pure altruism and effectiveness of altruistic acts.
Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis
One helps out of empathy regardless of self-interest.
Distinguishes between altruism (helping for others’ welfare) and egoism (self-welfare).
Personal Qualities Influencing Prosocial Behaviour
Altruistic Personality: Traits such as selflessness and empathy promote helping behaviour.
Influencing factors:
Individual personality differences
Gender roles
Cultural background
Religious beliefs
Presence of a positive mood
Factors Influencing Helping Behaviour
Gender Influences
Differences in helping behaviour based on gender roles, influenced by occupational context.
Suggests men and women may be more willing to help the opposite sex.
Cultural Influences
In-group biases; people help members of their identified group more than out-group members.
Cultural value of Simpatía: Promotes positivity and helping in Spanish-speaking cultures.
Mood and Prosocial Behaviour
Positive moods can increase propensity to help, maintaining self-interest in prolonging their happiness.
"Feel bad, do good" effect: Guilt can lead to an increase in helping behaviour.
Urban Overload Hypothesis
Urban settings create overwhelming stimuli, leading to a decline in altruistic behaviours compared to rural areas.
Residential Mobility
Long-term residents in a community tend to engage more in prosocial behaviours due to attachment and reputation concerns.
The Bystander Effect
Phenomenon where individuals are less likely to offer help in an emergency when others are present.
Historical examples: Kitty Genovese’s murder, illustrating the lack of action from bystanders.
Bystander Intervention Steps
Notice: Distraction can lead to missing a call for help.
Interpret: Pluralistic ignorance leads to misinterpretation of emergencies.
Responsibility: Individuals must decide if they will intervene.
Help: Understanding the nature of assistance needed.
Act: Ensure safety for both victim and helper.
Understanding Prejudice
Definition and Components
Prejudice: Negative attitudes based on group membership.
Components include:
Cognitive: Stereotypes about groups.
Affective: Personal emotional responses.
Behavioural: Actions reflecting discriminatory attitudes.
Target Groups of Prejudice
Can encompass: nationality, race, gender, religion, etc.
Cognitive Component
Stereotypes generalize qualities of individuals based on group membership.
Affective Component
Differentiates between explicit (open) and implicit (unconscious) prejudice.
Emotional reactions can linger, influencing behaviour.
Behavioural Component
Discrimination as a negative action towards groups, such as reluctance to help and microaggressions.
Suppressing and Identifying Prejudices
Measuring Prejudice
Techniques like the Bogus Pipeline can uncover concealed biases.
Implicit Association Test (IAT): Used to identify hidden stereotypes through reaction times.
Effects of Prejudice on Victims
Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: Negative beliefs can lead to tangible consequences reinforcing those biases.
Examples include the Placebo Effect and Pygmalion Effect in educational settings.
Stereotype Threat
Anxiety experienced by members of marginalized groups due to fear of confirming stereotypes.
Causes of Prejudice
Institutional Discrimination
Discriminatory structures within organizations based on ethnicity, race, or other identifiers.
Pressure to Conform
Normative conformity causes individuals to align with group beliefs to avoid social rejection.
Social Identity Theory
Understanding group membership influences self-perception and may lead to in-group bias.
Blaming the Victim
Tendency to attribute victimization to personal flaws, reflecting self-protection and avoidance of feeling vulnerable.
The Role of Scapegoating
Displacing aggression onto marginalized groups during personal frustration.
Reducing Prejudice
Presenting counter-stereotypical information may not effectively alter beliefs.
Contact Hypothesis: Positive contact conditions can mitigate prejudice.
Six Conditions for Contact
Mutual interdependence
Common goal
Equal status
Friendly informal setting
Knowing multiple out-group members
Social norms of equality
Conclusion
Thank you for attending the lecture.
For questions, email: swati.mujumdar@monash.edu.