Prosocial Behavior
PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOR - summary Prosocial behavior
—voluntary actions that are carried out to benefit others helping no obvious benefits for the person performing the behavior You hear a scream from outside your apartment window. What do you do? Example—Kitty Genovese homicide case (NY City) for 35 minutes she was repeatedly attacked and stabbed
38 people watched from their windows no one helped no one called the police how do you explain this lack of assistance? "Diffusion of responsibility"
- with other potential helpers around, each individual feel less personal responsibility “Bystander effect”
-the finding that the more people are present, the less likely it is that any one bystander will help Often time, cases like this happen in cities: cities are distracting (you may not notice an emergency) more people around = less personal responsibility most of the people around are strangers—you can remain anonymous If you need help, what should you do? pick out a particular individual and ask for help
The process for helping to occur: Bystander intervention model (Latané & Darley, 1968). Five necessaries cognitives helps: 1. Perception of the situation for helping to occur one must notice the situation 2. Interpret the situation as an emergency pluralistic ignorance—use of other’s behavior to determine if help is required no one else is acting like it’s an emergency 3. Assume responsibility for helping is it your place to help?
4. Assess ability to help (skills, knowledge, etc.) how should you help? can you help? 5. Decision to help (outcomes vs. costs, motivation) is it worthwhile to help? are there risks to you that outweigh the benefits?
Why does someone help? 1. Altruism/Egoism/Empathy Altruism—form of helping with the goal of helping another, without expecting anything in return involves self-sacrifice
"altruistic personality"
—voluntary actions that are carried out to benefit others helping no obvious benefits for the person performing the behavior You hear a scream from outside your apartment window. What do you do? Example—Kitty Genovese homicide case (NY City) for 35 minutes she was repeatedly attacked and stabbed
38 people watched from their windows no one helped no one called the police how do you explain this lack of assistance? "Diffusion of responsibility"
- with other potential helpers around, each individual feel less personal responsibility “Bystander effect”
-the finding that the more people are present, the less likely it is that any one bystander will help Often time, cases like this happen in cities: cities are distracting (you may not notice an emergency) more people around = less personal responsibility most of the people around are strangers—you can remain anonymous If you need help, what should you do? pick out a particular individual and ask for help
The process for helping to occur: Bystander intervention model (Latané & Darley, 1968). Five necessaries cognitives helps: 1. Perception of the situation for helping to occur one must notice the situation 2. Interpret the situation as an emergency pluralistic ignorance—use of other’s behavior to determine if help is required no one else is acting like it’s an emergency 3. Assume responsibility for helping is it your place to help?
4. Assess ability to help (skills, knowledge, etc.) how should you help? can you help? 5. Decision to help (outcomes vs. costs, motivation) is it worthwhile to help? are there risks to you that outweigh the benefits?
Why does someone help? 1. Altruism/Egoism/Empathy Altruism—form of helping with the goal of helping another, without expecting anything in return involves self-sacrifice
"altruistic personality"
Bibliography: Baron, Robert A., Social Psychology, Prentice Hall