Chapter 12

Question 1

Know the theories on why we help others (e.g., Social Exchange, Social Norms, Evolutionary/ Kin Selection, Negative State relief Model, Empathy-Altruism Model, Modeling)

Answer 1

social exchange - human interactions are transactions that aim to maximize rewards and minimize costs
social norms - its just the norm to help others, it’s expected by society
evolutionary: kin selection - evolution has selected altruism toward close relatives to increase survival of our genes and reciprocity norm - people help others who have helped them before
negative state relief - we help to relieve existing negative moods by helping
empathy altruism - helping is determined by degree of empathy
study where in difficult to escape situations those with empathy helped 80% of the time and those without helped 60% of the time
in easy to escape situations, those with empathy helped 90% of the time, those without helped 20%
modeling - we see others do it, so we do it

Question 2

Know the situational factors that influence helping including the bystander effect

Answer 2

bystander effect - more people means they’re less likely to help, diffusion of responsibility, watch others for cue

princeton seminary students - when you feel like you have time, you’re more likely to be aware of needs and feel like you can go help, when they had just enough time or were late, way less likely to help others

Question 3

Know the 5 steps associated with Latane and Darley’s model of when helping occurs

Answer 3

1. must notice something is wrong
2. perceive that an emergency exists
3. assume responsibility
4. know what to do
5. decide to help

Question 4

Know the effects of mood on helping

Answer 4

when you’re in a good mood, you will help often
really good mood likely not to help
negative state relief - you might help sometimes to remedy bad mood

Question 5

Know the characteristics associated with whom we are more likely to help

Answer 5

1. more likely to help attractive people,
2. people who ask for help are more likely to get it, if people are similar to us,
3. we are more likely to help them,
4. if we see their circumstances are beyond their control we’re more likely to help