Chapter 9: Prosocial Behavior
Moral Motives: Moral Integrity
Motivated to be moral and actually engage in moral behavior
Why is Empathy dealing among U.S. College students: Reality T.V. message
"Do anything to win"
Batson study with giving the boring task or chance to win a raffle ticket to themselves or to another participant. What did they say they would do?
-90% agreed they should take the boring task
Situational Factors: Shaw, Borough, and Fink Results
-90% helped heterosexual male call their wife -30% helped homosexual male call their wife
Deciding who needs help: Liberals
-Concerned about people who need help and dont have it -TYPE II ERROR (FALSE NEGATIVES)
Batson study with giving the boring task or chance to win a raffle ticket to themselves or to another participant. With the coin involved or to decide on their own.
-Most chose the coin to decide who does what action - Most ingored the results and chose the raffle ticket
Deciding who needs help: Conservatives
-People who we give foodstamps to abuse it -People get benefits they dont need - TYPE I ERROR (FALSE POSITIVES)
Situational Factors: Prosocial vs. Aggressive Video Games Greitmeyer & Osswald
-Prosocial video (Lemmings) - 57% helped -Neutral Video (tetris)- 33% helped -Aggressive video (Lamers) - 28% helped
Why does expressed gratitude increase future prosocial action by helper? (3)
1) Add to self-efficacy of the helper (I feel capable) 2) Add to self-worth of helper (I feel valuable) 3)When you recognize and are thankful for the blessing of life, it might also put you in a better mood
Bystander Studies: Piliavin Subway Study Any other manipulations?
1) Birthmarks 2) Doctor/Nurse Present
Why does the bystander effect happen? (3)
1) Diffusion of Responsibility 2) Alternative fear of social blunder 3) Latane and Darley 5 Step Model
Three Components of Empathy
1) Emotional Empathy 2) Empathic Accuracy 3) Empathic Concern
Bystander Effect: Darley and Latane => 2 Dependent Variables
1) Whether people helped or not 2) How long it took them (reaction time)
3) Latane and Darley 5 Step Model
1)Notice something happening 2)Interpret the situation as one where help is needed 3) Assume Responsibility 4) Decide on Course of Action 5) Take Action
Batson study with giving the boring task or chance to win a raffle ticket to themselves or to another participant. What did they actually do?
70-80% actually took the raffle ticket
Theoretical Explanations for Prosocial Behavior: Genetic Determinism => Kin Selection Theory
A key "goal" of all organisms, including us, is getting our genes into the next generation: one way is by helping others who share our genes.
Prosocial Behavior
Actions by individuals that help others with no immediate benefits to the helper "Sounds like altruism to me"
Moral Motives: Generativity
Adult's concern for and commitment to the well-being for future generations (Erikson's 7th stage... 30-60)
Bystander Effect is strongest if the situation is
Ambiguous
Bystander effect is strongest if the bystanders are
Anonymous stranger whom you are unlikely to meet again
Bystander Studies: Darley and Batson, Cost of Helping
Article 29
Bystander Effect: Darley and Latane => Results of the Whether people helped or not dependent variable
As the number of bystanders increased, the percentage of individuals who helped decreased
Bystander Effect: Darley and Latane => Results of the reaction times
As the number of bystanders increased, the time elapsing before help was given increased
Deciding who needs help: Prior Commitment - Neighborhood Watch
Asking people specifically to watch your house will prompt individual to act
Altruism in Animal Behavior
Behavior by an animal that may be to its disadvantage but that benefits others of its kind -Such as a warning cry that reveals the location of the caller to a predator
Bystander Studies: Latane and Darley Questionnaire in smoke filled room (friends vs. strangers)
Bystander effect more likely with a room of strangers that you don't expect to see again
Theoretical Explanations for Prosocial Behavior: Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis => Empathy
Capacity to experience others' emotional states vicariously
3) Empathic Concern
Concern for well-being of others
2) Empathic Accuracy
Correctly perceiving other thoughts (Component leads to good social relations) "Every day mind-reading"
Theoretical Explanations for Prosocial Behavior: Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis => Altruism
Doing something for someone else with NO thought of reward
Deciding who needs help: Victim Responsibility
Drunk- Not my fault, not helping
Bystander effect with friends or strangers you may see again?
Effect does not occur as much
Altruistic Personality and Prosocial Behaviors: Low in what?
Egocentricism
Altruistic Personality and Prosocial Behaviors: Self concept that includes
Empathy
Bystander Studies: Piliavin Subway Study Bleeding person (confederate)
Ended being other reasons why people didnt help -Blood -Disease
Theoretical Explanations for Prosocial Behavior: Competitive Altruism examples
Endow a chair, a building, an entire school
Gratitude and Prosocial Actions Dr. Mike McCullough
Expressions of gratitude facilitate prosocial actions
2) Alternative fear of social blunder?
Fear of being seen as foolish
Altruism is a subset of
Helping
Situational Factors: Attribution fo responsibility video
Hobo- Slowest to get help Women- Eventually got help faster Man in Suit - Fastest to get help (6 seconds)
Bystander Studies: Bryant & Test,1967 Stranded female motorist, role models present or not.
If people saw a role model help a women on the side of the road and then saw another person who needed help, they were more likely to help in comparison to someone who didnt see a role model beforehand
Bystander Studies: Piliavin Subway Study What happened when the doctor/nurse was present?
If the nurse/doctor didnt act, people were less likely to help
Altruistic Personality and Prosocial Behaviors: What kind of locus of control?
Internal Locus of Control
Theoretical Explanations for Prosocial Behavior: Empathic Joy Hypothesis => We help because
It feels good when we do (Positive Reinforcement)
Deciding who needs help: Blaming the victim
Its their fault, they had this coming
Altruistic Personality and Prosocial Behaviors: Belief in what kind of world?
Just World (Everybody gets what they deserve... Karma)
Bystander Studies: Piliavin Subway Study When people are trained to respond to emergency situations, what happens with regards to 5 step model?
Less likely to be affected by bystander effect Do not have to decide to long on what to do
Bystander Studies: Piliavin Subway Study Drunk needing help
Less likely to help
Situational Factors: Perceived Cost of Helping
Low Cost - Help
Theoretical Explanations for Prosocial Behavior: Competitive Altruism => Here help, such as a big donation, is often...
Made in order to gain status
Situational Factors: Shaw, Borough, and Fink Background Man calling wife
Man ran out of dimes and couldn't call wife to let them know that they were going to be late
Theoretical Explanations for Prosocial Behavior: Negative-State Relief Model => Mayor Daoud (1991)
Miami Beach, 41 counts of bribery, 18 months in federal Prison. -day before the news of his bribery charges were released, he helped in a fire, so it's an example of negative state relief model cause he did prosocial behavior in order to reduce his own neg state
Politics and evangelical movements are both full of
Moral Hypocrisy
Batson study with giving the boring task or giving good task to themselves or to another participant. The coin demonstrated what Moral Motive type?
Moral Hypocrisy -Acted in a moral way, but when their was a cost involved, they didnt
Situational Factors: Scent
More helpful when there is a pleasant scent in the air
Bystander Studies: Piliavin Subway Study Old man needing help
More likely to help
Situational Factors: Similarity
More likely to help people similar to us
Situational Factors: Attraction
More likely to help someone more attractive
Bystander Studies: Darley et al. 1973 participants working back to back or face to face. Crash, workman in next room. Face to face respond like working alone.
More likely to help the man on the ladder if students were sitting face to face
Situational Factors: Mood
More likely to help when someone is in a good mood
Bystander Studies: Piliavin Subway Study First conclusion
More people present, less likely to help
Situational Factors: Shaw, Borough, and Fink Reason why?
Most people likely see the homosexual as least similar and not call significant other
Moral Motives: Moral Hypocrisy
Motivation to appear moral while doing ones best to avoid the actual costs involved with actually being moral
Moral Motives: Stagnation (Self-Interest)
Motivation to engage in whatever behavior provides the greatest satisfaction
Bystander Studies: Piliavin Subway Study Was race a factor?
No
Theoretical Explanations for Prosocial Behavior: Genetic Determinism => Kin Selection Theory... Do you need to have a child to pass on most of your genes?
No
Theoretical Explanations for Prosocial Behavior: Negative-State Relief Model => Does this model say empathy is needed?
No
Situational Factors: Attribution of responsibility
One of the reasons people dont help someone who is a drunk "Why should i get involved? Its their fault"
Theoretical Explanations for Prosocial Behavior: Empathic Joy Hypothesis => Video of female student (similar/disimilar) might drop out of college because felt isolated.
Participants were helpful only if High Empathy (similar) and told would receive feedback about their impact
In the 2nd step of the model, what tends to arise when we interpret the situation
Pluralistic Ignorance
Altruism
Principle or practice of unselfish concern for or devotion to the welfare of others
Helping is a subset of
Prosocial Behavior Prosocial Behavior => Helping => Altruism
Theoretical Explanations for Prosocial Behavior: Negative-State Relief Model => Prosocial behavior is motivated by a desire to
Reduce own negative emotional state -We get Negative Reinforcement
Emotions and Helping (Simple model): Positive Emotional State
Reward Probable- Greater helping Cost Probable- Less helping
Situational Factors: Prosocial Role Models
Role Model - Help
Pluralistic Ignorance
See something happening and create a situation whee they don't have to help - "I didnt realize" -Come up with reasons why you shouldn't do it - More people conclude that we shouldn't do anything, and it won't be a problem
Bystander Studies: Piliavin Subway Study Why did he like the subway model?
Set number of passengers Can stage emergency and get %
1) Emotional Empathy
Sharing feelings
Altruistic Personality and Prosocial Behaviors: High in
Social Responsibility/sense of duty
Bystander Studies: Darley et al. 1973 participants working back to back or face to face. Crash, workman in next room. Face to face respond like working alone. Why face to face?
Social comparison was at play
Theoretical Explanations for Prosocial Behavior: Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis
Some prosocial behavior is motivated solely by desire to help someone who is need
Emotions and Helping (Simple model): Negative Emotional State
Sometimes more helping Sometimes less helping
Bystander Effect: Kitty Genovese
Stabbed to death while bystanders watched
Altruistic Personality and Prosocial Behaviors: Altruism and Authoritarianism
Strongly and negatively correlated
Deciding who needs help: Prior Commitment - Beach Blanket Study
When women asks neighbor to watch radio, special human bond formed Now individual acts (gender does not matter)
Responding to an emergency: Bystander Effect
The more people around, less you are to get involve
Theoretical Explanations for Prosocial Behavior: Empathic Joy Hypothesis => If this is true, person must find out about
The positive impact they've had
Why is Empathy declining among U.S. College students: Schools still emphasizing
Unearned self-esteem -Feel good about yourself no matter what (no one really loses)
Theoretical Explanations for Prosocial Behavior: Negative-State Relief Model => What can motivate prosocial behavior
Unhappiness about anything can motivate prosocial behavior
Why is Empathy declining among U.S. College students: Increasing exposure to
Violence in the mass media
Helping leads to resentment and unwanted obligation, lower self-esteem?
Yes I.e. Younger brother helping older sibling makes older sibling feel less capable and resentment
Greitmeyer & Osswald Video games experiment: Was it a true experiment?
Yes with casual inference
Theoretical Explanations for Prosocial Behavior: Competitive Altruism => Other 3 theories mentioned above depend on
affective state
