Chapter 12: Altruism and Helping

Question 1

Altruism

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Social-exchange theory

Answer 2

The theory that human interactions are transactions that aim to maximize one’s rewards and minimize one’s costs

Question 3

Social-responsibility norm

Answer 3

An expectation that people will help those needing help

Question 4

Empathy-based altruism

Answer 4

form of altruism based on moral emotions or feelings for others

Question 5

Direct Reciprocity norm

Answer 5

An expectation that people will help, not hurt, those who have helped them

Question 6

Indirect Reciprocity norm

Answer 6

sometimes doing something good for someone else encourages them to do good to another tertiary person or party.

Question 7

Kin selection

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Social capital

Answer 8

The mutual support and cooperation enabled by a social network

Question 9

Bystander effect

Answer 9

The finding that a person is less likely to provide help when there are other bystanders

Question 10

Noticing

Answer 10

You notice less stuff when in groups

Question 11

Interpreting

Answer 11

Interpreting events leads to increased altruism

Question 12

Assuming responsibility

Answer 12

Increased assumed responsibility, increased willingness to help

Question 13

Time pressure

Answer 13

hurried participants passed on by the person

Question 14

Similarity to us

Answer 14

We tend to help those whom we perceive as being similar to us.

Question 15

Individual differences

Answer 15

hey have found individual differences in helpfulness and shown that those differences persist over time and are noticed by one’s peers

Question 16

Network of traits

Answer 16

Those high in positive emotionality, empathy, and self-efficacy are most likely to be concerned and helpful (Eisenberg et al., 1991; Krueger et al., 2001; Walker & Frimer, 2007). Overall, the personality trait that best predicts willingness to help is agreeableness, indicative of someone who highly values getting along with others (Habashi et al., 2016). Not surprisingly, those with callous traits (such as psychopathy) are less helpful and empathic (Beussink et al., 2017).

Question 17

Particular situation

Answer 17

Those high in self-monitoring are attuned to others’ expectations and are therefore helpful if they think helpfulness will be socially rewarded (White & Gerstein, 1987). Others’ opinions matter less to internally guided, low-self-monitoring people. Sensitivity matters as well. People who are more sympathetic to the victims in emergency situations respond faster when they are the only ones there, but slower when there are other bystanders (Hortensius et al., 2016).

Question 18

Contribution of gender

Answer 18

The effect of personality or gender may depend on the situation. Men, for example, have been observed to help more in dangerous situations, women as volunteers and charitable givers.

Question 19

Contribution of religion

Answer 19

Religious faith predicts long-term altruism, as reflected in volunteerism and charitable contributions.

Question 20

Modeling

Answer 20

we see or read about someone helping, we become more likely to offer assistance.