Ch 14: Altruism & Justice Flashcards
Altruism
action preformed to benefit another person without benefiting the self
-example of a helping behavior (action preformed to help another person) and a pro-social behavior (action positively valued by society)
Bystander intervention
act of helping a person in danger or distress by people who are not its cause
- as number of bystanders increases people are less likely to interpret as problem and less likely to assume responsibility
- lack of intervention explained by diffusion of responsibility and pluralistic ignorance
Pluralistic ignorance
wrongly assuming based on others actions that they endorse a particular norm such as inferring others inaction is others believing intervention is not necessary
Diffusion of responsibility
one explanation for why bystanders do not intervene, perception that someone else will
Machiavellianism
individual difference variable associated with tendency to manipulate others for personal gains, less likely to help
Belief in a just world
more likely to help
Empathy
ability to take perspective of others
Empathetic concern
emotional reaction to the suffering of others which results from taking their perspectives, thought to motivate helping behaviors
Moral reasoning
extent to which people compare their own needs with overarching moral standards
Extensivity
persons sense that they are obligated to help others both close and distant
Empathy-altruism hypothesis
when people feel empathy for others they will be more likely to help that person at a personal cost to the self
Kin selection
acting differently towards members of the same species depending on their degree of genetic relatedness to the self
Reciprocal altruism
animal incentive to help other animal because it heightens the prospects that they will be rewarded
Social dilemmas
situations in which the interests of the individual are at odds with the interests of the group
Cooperation
decisions that sacrifice the persons interests for the sake of the group
Defection
decisions that pursue the persons interests at the expense of the group
Prisoners dilemma
simulated social dilemma in which “prisoners” have to choose between confessing or not, risking a light vs. heavy sentence for them and a partner
Public goods dilemma
individuals are better off if they don’t contribute but the group as a whole is worse off, “free-riding”
Commons dilemma
individuals interested are served by using a resource but collective interests suffer because the resource is depleted
Encouraging cooperation
- encourage pro-social orientation (oppose to pro-self social value orientation)
- encourage strong social identification with the wider group
- communication (establishing principles/norms before decision making)
- punishing defection and rewarding cooperation as the dilemma unfolds
Social value orientation
extent to which someone is “pro-self” or “pro-social”
-determines extent to which people will cooperate
Altruistic punishment
incurring a personal cost in order to harm a person who has defected
Indirect reciprocity
incurring a personal cost to reward someone who has cooperated with other group members
Direct reciprocity
incurring a personal cost to reward someone who has cooperated with them personally
