Altruism 1

Question 1

What is altruism?

Answer 1

A motive to increase another’s welfare without conscious regard for one’s self-interests

Question 2

What were the main findings of the Darley and Barley study?

Answer 2

1. Time constraints had a large impact on helping, regardless of which topic they were speaking on.
2. Those who thought they were late scored lowest

Question 3

What are the three theories of altruism?

Answer 3

1. the social-exchange theory
2. the theory of social norms
3. evolutionary psychology

Question 4

What is the social-exchange theory?

Answer 4

It is a theory that states that human interactions are transactions that aim to maximize one’s rewards and minimize one’s costs. Rewards can be external or internal

Question 5

What are the two social norms in the theory of social norms identified by social psychologists?

Answer 5

a. the norm of reciprocity
b. the norm of social responsibility

Question 6

What is the norm of reciprocity?

Answer 6

It is the expectation that people will help, not hurt, those who have helped them. it helps define social capital.

Question 7

What is social capital?

Answer 7

It is the mutual support and cooperation enabled by a social network. it operates most effectively as people respond publicly to good deeds done to them earlier.

Question 8

What is the norm of social responsibility?

Answer 8

It is an expectation that people will help those needing help

Question 9

What is the evolutionary psychology theory?

Answer 9

It contends that the essence of life is gene survival, our genes drive us in ways that will maximize their chance of survival

Question 10

What are the multiple mechanisms for overcoming selfishness according to the evolutionary psychology theory?

Answer 10

1. kin selection
2. reciprocity
3. group selection

Question 11

What is kin selection in the evolution theory of psychology?

Answer 11

The idea that evolution has selected altruism toward one’s close relatives to enhance the survival of mutually shared genes

Question 12

What is reciprocity in the evolution theory of social psychology?

Answer 12

It is an idea that an organism helps another because it expects help in return. there are two types, direct and indirect reciprocity.

Question 13

What is direct reciprocity?

Answer 13

This refers to when both parties scratch each other’s backs.

Question 14

What is indirect reciprocity?

Answer 14

This means that “i’ll scratch your back, you scratch someone’s and someone will scratch mine.”

Question 15

What does the group selection theory of evolution psychology state?

Answer 15

Groups of mutually supportive altruists outlast groups of non-altruists

Question 16

The theories of altruism proposes two types of prosocial or helping behavior , what are these?

Answer 16

1. a tit-for-tat reciprocal exchange
2. a more unconditional helpfulness