Helping and Altruism

Understanding Altruism: Self and Other Concerns

• Altruism is specifically behavior intended to increase another person's welfare without direct reward to the performer, while helping can sometimes be motivated by self-concern. Social psychologists differentiate between the two by examining the intention behind the action and whether the helper acts with the primary goal of benefiting others rather than themselves.

• Social exchange theory and the concept of reciprocity explain that helping others may be driven by the expectation of future rewards or social cooperation. Helping behaviors are influenced by perceived benefits and the likelihood that assistance will be reciprocated in the future.

• Evolutionary factors, such as kinship selection and genetic relatedness, influence altruistic behaviors. Individuals are more likely to help those with whom they share genetic ties, enhancing the survival of their genes.

• The perception of rewards and costs plays a significant role in helping behavior. Helping is less likely when the perceived costs are high or in dangerous situations. Research has shown that time pressure can significantly impact whether individuals choose to help.

• Social norms, such as Good Samaritan laws and cultural expectations, can influence helping behavior by establishing guidelines for what is considered appropriate assistance in various situations.

The Role of Affect: Moods and Emotions

• Positive moods increase the likelihood of helping behavior, while negative moods may either promote helping to alleviate guilt or lead to withdrawal.

• Affective states like guilt, empathy, and personal distress influence helping in different ways; for instance, empathy generally encourages helping, while personal distress might inhibit it if it distracts from the needs of others.

How the Social Context Influences Helping

• Bibb Latané and John Darley’s model of helping behavior suggests that various social psychological variables, including bystander effect and diffusion of responsibility, influence each stage of the decision-making process in helping others.

Other Determinants of Helping

• Personal characteristics, such as personality traits and gender, as well as cultural background, play roles in levels of altruism.

• The reactions of the person receiving help can influence the benefits experienced by the helper; for example, expressions of gratitude may enhance feelings of satisfaction and reinforce future helping behavior.

• Strategies for increasing helping behavior include enhancing empathy, reducing perceived costs of helping, and fostering environments that encourage prosocial behavior.