Chapter 8: Altruism Flashcards
Altruism
Altruistic people are concerned and helpful even when no benefits are offered or expected in return
Altruistic Motivation
Helping purely for the sake of providing benefit to another person
Egoistic Motivation
Helping in order to obtain rewards or avoid punishments
Why Do People Help Others?
Social exchange theory
Social norms
Evolutionary psychology
Genuine altruism
Social Exchange Theory
Human interactions guided by social economics
Minimax strategy: minimize costs, maximize rewards
Do not consciously monitor costs and rewards
Considerations of costs and rewards predict future behaviour
External Rewards
We give to get
Internal Rewards
We give to feel good about ourselves
Reciprocity Norm
We should return help (not harm) to those who help us
Norm operates most effectively as people respond publicly to deeds earlier done to them
When people can’t reciprocate they may feel threatened/demeaned by accepting aid
Social Responsibility Norm
Reminds us to balance giving and receiving in social relations
More supported in collectivist cultures
Evolutionary Psychology
Evolutionary success comes from cooperation
Kin selection: if you carry my genes I’ll favour you
E.g. devotion to children increases gene survival
Direct reciprocity: you scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours
Indirect reciprocity: I’ll scratch your back, you scratch someone’s, and someone will scratch mine
Group selection: back scratching groups survive
Genuine Altruism
Empathy can be dispositional or situationally induced
Empathy for those we are close to or identify with (genuine)
Illusion of Transparency
Tendency to overestimate others’ ability to read our internal states
Pluralistic Ignorance
Assumption that others are thinking and feeling what we are
Bystander Effect
More people present decreases chances of helping
What increases chance of helping
When others help
When have more time
Similarity to the victim
Low number of bystanders
