Altruism and Agression

Question 1

Aggression is

Answer 1

any behavior intended to harm another person that the target person wants to avoid

Question 2

Altruism is

Answer 2

helping that is intended to provide aid to someone else without expectation of any reward

Question 3

Prosocial behaviour is

Answer 3

Actions that are considered beneficial to others and having positive social consequences

Question 4

Egoism

Answer 4

Helping behaviour motivated by self gratification

Question 5

Empathy

Answer 5

Emotion that is congruent with another persons emotion

Question 6

Distress

Answer 6

unpleasant emotions

Question 7

Frued on agression & Altruism

Answer 7

we have an innate urge to destroy. Which generates hostile impulses that is released by aggression passed through genes

Question 8

Sociobiological Explanations

Answer 8

• (E. Wilson 1975) Also known as the evolutionary
• Any genetically determined psychical attribute or trait that helps a person survive will be passed on.

-Altruism amongst animals = least likely to survive because they are the most helpful

Those who are aggressive live longer

Question 9

Social Learning Explanations:

Answer 9

2 processes where Aggressive and altruistic behaviour is learned

Imitation- ie- Bobo Doll
( Kids were more likely to behave with the doll in the manner that they had previously observed)
and

Reinforcement - associated with a desired outcome

Question 10

5 Factors that explain why exposure to media MAY increase aggressive behaviour

Answer 10

Viewing leads to Aggression

1. Imitation- Social learning
2. Cognitive Priming- Portrayals of violence activate aggressive thoughts and attitudes
3. Legitimization- Exposure to violence that leads to goal attainment and has positive outcomes
4. Desensitization- Less sensitive to aggression after viewing it so much

5 Arousal- Viewing violence on TV produces excitement

Question 11

Situational Explanations

Answer 11

Bystander Effect and Social norms

from the readings:
also -

Modeling: Presences of a behavioral model tends to increase helping b/c it demonstrates what actions are possible. It conveys the msg that is it appropriate to offer help
Mood: Can help/hinder likely hood of helping someone

Question 12

Who we Help depends on

Answer 12

Acquaintanceship
Similarity
Deservingness

Question 13

explain Acquaintanceship

Answer 13

Inclined to help people we know and who we are close to. Who we like based on appearance, characteristics and behaviour

Question 14

Explain Similarity

Answer 14

Inclined to help those who resemble us in race, attitudes, political views, mode of dress

Question 15

explain Deservingness

Answer 15

Inclined to help when circumstances are beyond ones control “Innocent Victims”

Question 16

Types of Social Norms:

Answer 16

Social Responsibility Norm: 
Norm of Reciprocity:
Personal Norms: 
Gender Norms:
Norms and aggression

Question 17

Explain Social Responsibility Norm:

Answer 17

• We should help others that are dependent on us
• We help those who NEED our help
• We must remember the norm in order to act on it.

Fairly weak source of motivation – what are the costs of helping?

Question 18

Explain Norm of Reciprocity:

Answer 18

-Help those who’ve helped up and not help those who denied us from help

Question 19

Personal Norms:

Answer 19

Feelings of moral obligation to perform actions that stem from an individuals internalized system of values

Question 20

Gender Norms:

Answer 20

Different ways men/women help

Question 21

Norms and aggression

Answer 21

Eye or an eye
Norms that allow and justify aggression

Someone coming into your house, 60% said its okay to kill them

Question 22

bystander effect

Answer 22

The more bystanders the less likely someone will receive help.

Question 23

Explain Evaluation apprehension

Answer 23

Concern about what others expect of them and how other will evaluate their actions

Question 24

explain Diffusion of responsibility

Answer 24

Other people share the blame for what happens

Question 25

Pinker Article—Why Is There Peace

Why the Popular Misconception about Violence?

Answer 25

-Pinker argued that we have become less aggressive

• Due to Improvements in the reporting of violence– Cognitive illusion and 24/7 newsrooms
• the easier it is to recall an event, the more likely we are to believe it will happen again

Question 26

Explanations for the Decline in Violence PINKER article

Answer 26

1. Rise of nation-states and central authority remove the need for preemptive violence
2. Improvements in life expectancy changed view of ‘life as cheap’– Life is more valuable
3. Benefits of cooperation mean that your competitors are better off (for you) alive than dead
4. The expanding circle of kin/friends with globalization and interconnectedness

Question 27

Frustration- Aggression Hypothesis

Answer 27

• People become aggressive in response to events that are frustrating

Question 28

Aversive Emotional Arousal

Answer 28

• People think acting aggressive will make them feel better
• Actions that increase aggression b/c they arouse aversive affect—negative emotion that ppl want to reduce

Example: Yelling at your mom, or kicking a wall

Question 29

Explanations of bystander effect:

Answer 29

1. Noticeability- how noticeable is this person
2. Interpretation– If no one else is helping, then i shouldnt either, Conforming to the social norms of the situation
3. Diffusion of Responsibility

The readings includes

4. Must believe they know how to help
5. Must make the decision to Act

Question 30

What is the Circular process of TV viewing?

Answer 30

We know that aggressive children tend to be isolated and unpopular, therefore
they watch more TV and are exposed to greater violent depictions, this
legitimizes violence and arouses it and primes them => become more isolate and unpopular and keeps continuing
If it had a really big effect on us, we would be observing a lot more aggression

Question 31

Fundamental attribution error in helping

Answer 31

Relates to the Bystander effect, “if no one else is doing anything, then i shouldnt either”

Question 32

Explain Social Norms

Answer 32

Social norms constructed in a specific situation can shape how people react

Exist as shared values about how to act in a situation
 Norms shape behaviour