Altruism
- increase others’ welfare without regard for
own interests
Why Do We help?
-
social exchange
theory
o maximize rewards, minimize costs
o take things
into account before making decisions
o rewards
§
external
·
give to get
§
internal
·
increases
self-worth
§
if it’s rewarding
is it altruistic?
o internal rewards
§
internal factors
·
guilt
o do good after doing bad
o restore self-image
o project positive public image
o exceptions
§
anger, grief
§
focus attention
on others
o feel good, do good
§
happy = helpful
-
social norms
o we ought to help
o social expectations
o reciprocity norm
§
help those who
help you
§
social capital
·
mutual support
and corporation in social network
o social-responsibility norm
§
help those who
need help
§
individualistic
cultures
·
need not caused
by own negligence
o attributions important
o gender
§
females
·
offer help
equally
·
ask for help
§
males
·
offer help more
to females
-
evolutionary
psychology
o genetic selfishness influences helping
o kin protection
§
altruistic
towards close relatives
§
kin selection
·
favoritism toward
those who share genes
o reciprocity
§
help others to
get help
§
small groups
§
why help
strangers?
·
group selection
o altruists outlast nonaltruists
o group loyalty
·
taught ethical
rules, norms
When Will We Help?
-
Kitty Genovese
o those involved fail to respond
o Latane and Darley
§
number of bystanders
·
bystanders
decrease intervention
o bystander effect
§
why?
·
noticing event
·
interpreting
event
o information influence
o illusion of transparency
o interpretation of stimuli
·
assuming
responsibility
·
alone vs. group
-
helping when
someone else does
o modeling influences helping
o elevation
§
physiological
response
§
inspires helping
-
time pressures
o preoccupied
-
similarity
o dress, beliefs
o race
§
diffusion of
responsibility
Who Will Help?
-
personality
traits
o individual differences
§
persist, noticed
by others
o network of traits
§
empathy,
self-efficacy
o reactions to situations
§
self-monitoring
o gender differences
-
religious faith
o intentional vs. spontaneous helping
o more time
o money
Increasing Helping
-
increase
responsibility
o reduce ambiguity
o personal appeal
o reduce anonymity
-
guilt, concern
for image
o aware of transgressions
o label as helpful
-
socialization
o modeling
§
family
§
media
-
attributions
o overjustification phenomenon (OJP)
§
reward for
something already rewarding
§
externally
controlled
§
reduce OJP
·
compliments
·
don’t reward or
pressure