Chapter 9: Prosocial Behavior

diffusion of responsibility

a principle suggesting that the greater the number if witnesses to an emergency the less likely victims are to receive help. This is because each bystander assumes that someone else will do it

prosocial behavior

actions by individuals that help others with no immediate benefit to the helper

social exclusion

conditions in which individuals feel that they have been excluded from some social group

empathy

emotional reactions that are focused on or oriented toward other people and include feelings of compassion, sympathy, and concern

defensive helping

help given to members of outgroups to reduce the threat they pose to the status or distinctiveness of one's ingroup

empathy-altruism hypothesis

the suggestion that some prosocial acts are motivated solely by the desire to help someone in need

empathic joy hypothesis

the view that helpers respond to the needs of a victim because they want to accomplish something, and doing so is rewarding in and of itself

kin selection theory

a theory suggesting that a key goal for all organisms-including human beings- is getting our genes into the next generation; one way in which individuals can reach this goal is by helping others who share their genes

pluralistic ignorance

refers to the fact that because none of the bystanders respond to an emergency, no one knows for sure what is happening and each depends on the others to interpret the situation

negative-state relief model

the proposal that prosocial behavior is motivated by the bystander's desire to reduce his or her own uncomfortable negative emotions or feeliings