altruism
Albom
morrie
post: love 31-39
lowest aspect of human personality- man is animal, instinctive, unconscious excitations and inhibitions, drives, activities of the human organism necessary for animal life all biological bioconscious in man- the pusuit of biological needs and ego development socioconscious in man- sociocultural egos, roles and activities, social roles and personas sociconcious as powerful and binding supraconscious intuition informs so much of the highest human creativity, the work of child prodigies supreme love can hardly be achieved without a direct participation of the supraconscious instruments of the supraconscious - god, divine madness the great reason
What did Sorokin say were the five dimensions
1) Intensity: ranging from making a small effort....... to providing a huge emotional commitment 2) Extensivity: ranging from only helping your own kind... to serving a many people across the planet 3) Duration: ranging from helping for a few minutes............................. to helping for years 4) Purity and sincerity: ranging from concern for one's honor & reputation.............. to helping like an angel 5) Adequacy: ranging from inadequate or overindulgent........... .....to careful, effective service
PHILIA: Type #2
Friendships of pleasure: people to have fun with. Might involve ALTRUISM, but might not.
STORGE
Parental love or family bonds of love. Might involve ALTRUISM, but might not, if parents are selfish.
Erikson
Erik Erikson's theory of 8 stages across the lifespan. He focuses on the psycho-social development of a person, and most adults are in the later 3 stages, which may involve being altruistic to others.
EUDAIMONIA: (Ancient Greek concept)
Essentially you feel well, because you have acted well.
AGAPE
God's love of all people and we get to experience it as a feeling of contentment when we look for the good in others and unselfishly help them. This definitely involves ALTRUISM.
THELEMA
Passionate desire to be very involved in an important activity or job. It may feel like you are doing what God always intended you to do. Might involve ALTRUISM, but might not.
EROS
Sexual desire; love of who or what is beautiful. Might involve ALTRUISM, but might not.
downing
Stage 1: Passive Acceptance: unconcerned about oppression. Stage 2: Crisis: (Revelation) become aware of discrimination and oppression. Stage 3: Embeddedness: join groups for moral support. Stage 4: Synthesis: positive identity formed. Accept self. Stage 5: Active commitment: work hard for social change.
gilligan
Stage 1: Selfish: take care of myself. Stage 2: Sacrifice own needs in order to meet others' needs. Stage 3: Find a balance between own needs & others' needs.
Reciprocal Altruism
a form of helping behavior that is sustained when one individual (A) helps another (B) and at some future time B helps A or A's offspring
EUDAIMONIA: (Ancient Greek concept)
being true to one's inner self: identify your virtues, cultivate them and live according to them. Be all that you can be, and make a difference in the world. Develop what is best within yourself and then use these skills and talents in the service of the greater good, including the welfare of other people. "Eu" = well; "Daimon" = spirits. If you serve others, at some point you will suddenly feel well; these good spirits (daimons) will be present in your mind and it makes it all feel worthwhile to be kind and generous to others. Eudaimonia is true happiness which involves these positive feelings from the spiritual world, but you take the step to do good things for others.
Gandhi
death with peace rebels love and nonviolence started as a lawyer studied in england experienced racism asked to moved to 3rd class gave up material posse ions because they distract you from important things in life show love to your enemies tried to help muslims too fought for indian independence in britain grew to love everyone
Schweitzer
docter in africa helping sick saw horse being whipped didn't understand how people could be like that prodigy, played piano hated people who abused animals was gonna hit birds with stones but heard the church bells ring good in philosophy and psychology went to medical school opened hospital in south africa he was from swizerland considered a prisioner of war only doctor and wife was nurse helped prisioners his hospital was destroyed but he built a new one and hired people
post research
giving money to churches thirty people advergage income dependent varable varables: are you god instrument, beliefs in doing goof for others, lifes challenge to serve others, effectivness of lay leadership, social cohesion in group, pastorol leadership, age, marriage, tenure, chruch size
Fuller
habitat for humanity nomatter who u r u could help build houses patty no more shacks helped everyone not just of his religion
post: love 31-39
if unselfish love is confined the more unavoidable are the clashes between the group and the rest og hummanity an exclusive love of ones own group makes its members indifferent or even aggressive towards other groups and outsiders in group exclusivism is horrible - we need inhanced extensivity the power of hatrd should be directed to threats on mankind like disease, ignorance and poverty science can help us achieve the supreme good of sublime love, unbounded in its extensivity maximal in its intensity, purity, duration and adequacy
Noble
ireland abused by uncle sexually too the orphans were hidden from society treated like criminals christina noblee foundation in london childrens medicare and social center alcoholic father mother died raised siblings till they got separated ran away got beat and raped by four men had baby married twice 1st huband was abusive we r the world we r the children
The Dalai Lama
monk spiritual quest talked to alot of people buddhist, philosophy and psychology
post research
pure unlimited love is the sum of all virtue, very essence of divine nature across the great religious cultures of the world generous giving of self lies unsought for discovery of a more fufilled self big picture questions about the meaning of love spread unlimited love to everyone religion would rise in a scientific world unlimited love is the ultimate reality that underlies the universe that general personality characteristic do not have a direct effect upon the behavior of an individual from situation to situations parable good samaritan there speaking on- power in both hypothesis :relgion or ethical thoughts dont play a role in helping 67 students princeton theological seminary 47 came in method: personality questionaeriers emphasis on religion pressure to b on time slumped victim will they help or not ? results subjects in hurry less likely to help 16 helped thinking about the good samaritan didnt help increase helping behavior personality factors werent helpful
post research 62-66
social science research on altruism spirituality and unlimited love greed and self seeking nature of a consumer culture deterioration of social bonds what defines and produces civility and social capital role religious institutions and spirituality motivated volunteers play in countering effects of self serving narcissistic behavior childcare housed in a religious facility faith based organizations helping disadvantaged neglected communities helping behavior is unrelated to scriptural belief, whether the individual accepts the bible just cus ur religious doesn't make you altruistic emergency helping behavior is unrelated to religious belief religion does not translate into moral development for an individual morality indicates whether an individual has a strong sense of the division between good and evil, which may have developed outside of the religion
Bandura
Social Learning psychologist, Albert Bandura asserts that people observe others, reflect on what they see, then imitate others, even if there is no reward. Therefore, people can see others as role models who are being altruistic, and then they may imitate that behavior.
Altruism
an apparently unselfish concern for others or behavior that provides benefit to others at some cost to the individual. In contrast to selfishness, altruism represents a need to help or assist others, without regard to rewards or returned favors. In animal behavior it is difficult to understand how altruism could evolve since natural selection operates on individuals. However, organisms displaying altruism can benefit if they help their relatives (e.g. kin selection) or if an altruistic act is subsequently reciprocated.
post research
resukts_ based on income, the relgious participation, church attendence have to keep both results to be accurate dont move from house to house take what people, worker deserves his wages heal the sick they reject you they reject me love the lord your god with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind love your neighbor as yourself
Bhave
scoropian peace army and land for poor to reconginize tension and violence didn't like school loved walking around to neighboring places went around india praying student of ghandi went to wealthy landowners 4 million acres for poor want land to be workable for families
Worchel's Decision Tree
"When a person finds himself or herself witnessing an emergency situation, Latane and Darley (1970) pointed out that being altruistic involves not just one decision but a series of decisions. Only if a person makes an appropriate decision at each decision point will he or she intervene in the emergency. ...what has been called a Decision Tree. At each point, branches are available that may cause the bystander to go about his or her business without altruistic intervention.
According to the Writings of Swedenborg:
"Wishing our neighbors well and therefore treating them well is a moral way of life Whatever you want people to do to you, do also to them is the universal law of moral life "Loving the Lord and our neighbor is being of service." use rationality to enhance the morality of our life. our behavior is deliberate and purposeful "Real joy comes from loving to do good things without wanting to be repaid, is the reward that lasts forever
Erikson
(Stages 1 - 5: child and adolescent stages) Stage 6: Adults struggle with intimacy vs. isolation. Stage 7: Adults struggle with generativity vs. stagnation. Stage 8: Elderly struggle with feeling satisfied with life (ego-integrity) vs. despair
Ancient Greeks had words for eight kinds of LOVE, but some involve ALTRUISM much more than others
...
Worchel's Decision Tree
1) Notice: The first crucial decision is whether to notice the incident at all. If a person staggers from the side of the road and waves his arms in front of your car, and your headlights shine directly on him, you have very little alternative but to notice him. A scream at a snack bar at Grand Central Station, however, could go completely unnoticed, and any intervention by passersby would thus be forestalled. Somewhere between these extremes lie most of the situation that call for our intervention. 2) Interpret: Second, we have to interpret an event as an emergency....We can see two factors operating here. One is at the level of perception. If the screams really sounded like the crash of a hammer, then it might be difficult to make the interpretation necessary for intervention. The second factor is at the level of motivation. People may actively want to make a nonemergency interpretation so that they will not be embarrassed by having made a mistake nor take the risk involved in intervening. 3) Responsible: The third decision point is whether we, as bystanders, are responsible for helping. If we see two brothers fighting and notice that one of them is getting hurt, we may not view this as our responsibility to intervene if their father is standing there. The factors that may play a role in this decision include whether an appropriate authority who can intervene is present and the number of people who witness the emergency. 4) Appropriate form of assistance (skill): Fourth, we must decide on the appropriate form of assistance. We may believe that a situation requires direct or indirect intervention. ...No one may intervene because the bystanders cannot decide on the appropriate form of assistance, so they continue to tend to their own business. 5) Implement: Finally, people who notice an event that they interpret as an emergency and decide on the appropriate form of intervention must still decide to implement the decision. ...It is clear from the Decision Tree analysis that intervening in an emergency is a complex act. A series of interlocking decisions must be made, yet the final outcome may have to be achieved in a matter of seconds. Dissecting this speedy decision process is difficult, but social psychologists have uncovered a number of factors that influence the final decision regarding intervention
The requirements of reciprocal altruism are
1) that the participants are able to identify each other individually, 2) that they are able to remember past actions and who helped whom, 3) that the cost to the helper is less than the gain to the recipient, and 4) that there is a mechanism to protect against cheating
Positive Psychology
A new branch of psychology which describes and explains optimal human development. How can we help people reach their potential? Seligman and other psychologists emphasize generosity, flourishing, character strengths, resilience, flow, altruism, optimism, learned helpfulness (rather than learned helplessness) and "eudaimonia" (genuine happiness).
Reciprocal Altruism examples
Amish men build each others' barns; women sew each others' quilts
Gilligan
Carol Gilligan's theory: at least 3 stages of moral development, which focus on interpersonal connections and caring. Some consider this to be more of a female perspective. Adults could be in any of the 3 stages.
Worchel's Decision Tree Variables that effect whether people will intervene (summary)
Diffusion of responsibility: if there is a high number of bystanders then it will not be clear who is responsible, so few will intervene. Cost of the intervention to the bystander: how much time or money will it cost the bystander? Gender: men are more likely to step in to do heroic things while women are more likely to step in to nurture distressed people. Mood of bystander: if bystander's mood is good, more helping happens. Rewards or recognition: if bystander was rewarded for helping before, it is more likely that this bystander will help again in future. Other helpers: if even one bystander steps in and helps, then others are also willing to follow this lead and help too. Time: if the bystander is not pressed for time it is more likely that this bystander will help. Social norms: when the society around the event encourages helping, the bystander is more likely to help. Like: bystanders are more likely to assist people that they like. Race: bystanders are more likely to assist people of the same race. Ideology: bystanders are more likely to assist people of the same belief system or religion. Deserving people: bystanders are more likely to assist people who seem like they actually deserve to be helped
PHILIA: Type #3
Friendships of good where both friends strive to be good and have noble qualities. This definitely involves ALTRUISM.
PHILIA: Type #1
Friendships such as business acquaintances. Might involve ALTRUISM, but might not.
What is the Good Samaritan story?
In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have
What does it mean to be self-actualizing?
Maslow had a theory explaining how people can evolve to a high level, which involves being of service to others, joyfully, and using one's skills
Downing
Nancy Downing's theory of 5 stages of adult identity formation for females. Could this theory apply to other aspects of adult development, especially if the adult has been a victim of any kind of oppression? Sometimes oppressed people are too resentful to ever be altruistic. Downing claims that people can evolve:
EPITHEMIA
Overwhelming desire to give ALL of oneself to a relationship but with an unhealthy demand to be loved back. It may be reckless and intense and not very noble. Probably does not involve ALTRUISM.
Swedenborg
swedenborgs life of active service mysticism and spirituality spritual life as life of charity, use and service the value of active participation in the world, the value of freedom, service and community. that individuals have freedom of choicein spiritual as well as natural things true freedom evolves life of active service, striving for public good, consciously living in the communitychrist alked through him was politically active engineer and inventor administration, science and politics spritual pursuits was on board of mines spritual writing mythology and science recorded his spritual experiences he took spritual explorations influenced by lutheran view divine providence-relationship between god providence and human freedom connections to universal themes and christian beliefs soul body interaction apocalypse divine love and wisedom a brief exposition - how his views related to the possible reform of christianity conjugial love- ethical behavior and moral issues in the context of married life studied the epistles christian religion- what he understood to be truly christian way of rethinking lutheran theology was in the house of nobles hats advocated political freedom, resistance to absolute monarchy and readiness for war political freedom protects the public good emphasized the benefits of a system of balanced powers and coordinated offices his commitment to common good led him to make proposals to improve swedopns econmic situation, to realistically assess swedens political situation in relations to other nations, and to sipport a system of government in which freedom and balance of power were fundamental his poltical career reflects the same commitment to freedom, service and community that he expressed in his theological writings and throughout his vocational life
Anglin
was dslexic lived in africa until her parents sent her to a boarding school she hated, homesick watched special needs babies foster children adopted pedro abused 3 year old adopted 2 girls from 13 year old mother acres of hope farm hd total of 15 kids he is chairmen of childrens health allience of wisconsin- lobbies to provide healthcare for children coordinator for adopt america network0 helps families find kids to adopt speaks at churches about adopting special needs kids dedicated to helping children and giving emotional support and financial assistance to families dealing with children who have emotional issues physical too want a safe haven for children wanted to help children keep from emotional problems, social or learning disorders dealt with physically abused and tortured children coordinator for adopt america network
post: love 31-39
you need love of expenditure from other ppl intensity purity and adequency of love are positive the theological features liked jesus, al allalaj, damien the leper and gandhi no social source of love energy but they still maintained love some human beings through spritual and religious practices, participate in a love energy that defines god higher energy of love likely to have self replenishing sorokin biologically unconscious aspect of person a dimenished value