Chapter 9: Prosocial Behaviour: Doing What's Best for Others Flashcards
Prosocial behaviour
doing something that is good for other people or for society as a whole.
- Behaviour that respects others or that allows society to operate.
- Builds relationships.
- Opposite of anti-social behaviour (doing something bad for others or society; usually destroys relationships)
- Most social psychologists mostly talk about HELPING.
- Others look at Obedience and Conformity as well
Rule of law
When members of a society (including its most powerful leaders) respect and follow its rules.
* The rule of law is a huge boost to the quality of life.
* Other societal factors can also influence prosocial behaviour; e.g. children who lose
their parents to HIV/Aids has shown to have a more internal & external connectedness to school (school returns some normality) which fosters prosocial behaviour.
How can Prosocial behaviour also be influenced by experiences
Children whose parents have cancer tend to show more resilient, helping, caring, sharing and mature social behaviours.
How can the presence of others stimulate prosocial behaviour
- One PURPOSE of prosocial behaviour is to get yourself accepted into a group
- Self-interest will thus determine whether you will be accepted into a group.
- Compliance is better in public settings.
What motivates prosocial behaviour actions
Wanting to make a good impression
Reciprocity
The obligation to return in kind what another has done for us.
‘If you do something for me, and I don’t reciprocate, I’m likely to feel guilty about it.’
Explain the two ways reciprocity can come forth as
- Direct: Help someone, they help you
- Indirect: Help someone, someone else will likely help you.
Explain peoples willingness to help others based on reciprocity
People’s willingness to request or accept help, often depends on whether they think they will be able to pay it back.
Explain why one feels GRATITUDE when someone helps you
A positive emotion that results from the perception that one has benefitted from the costly, intentional, voluntary action of another person.
What does one feel when they are on the receiving end of someone’s generosity
Fairness
Explain Born to be Fair
- Human being = cultural animals
- Fairness = cultural norm
- THUS, it is in our very nature to be fair.
Norms
Standards established by society to tell its members what types of behaviour are typical or expected
Name and explain the two norms that promote fairness:
- Equity: The idea that each person receives benefits in proportion to what they contribute.
- Equality: The idea that everyone gets the same amount, regardless what they contribute.
What leads to good relationships
Investing time
Energy
Resources
What risk do you run if you take without giving back
The risk of being EXCLUDED from the group
In what manner are people designed by nature
To belong to a system of fairness and social exchange
What is a major cause of depression regarding fairness
People who see themselves as takers and not givers
Why does one fear the outperformed may reject us
Sensitivity about being the target of a threatening upward comparison - interpersonal concern about the consequences of outperforming others.
Name the two kinds of unfairness:
- Under-benefitted: Getting less than you deserve
- Over-benefitted: Getting more than you deserve
How can one be fair
To object when being over- and under-benefitted
What does people feel that are over-benefitted
Guilty
Are children born with understanding reciprocity & fairness?
- Seem to develop it rather early.
- 4 – 8 yrs. Seem to understand that they need to pay back someone who has been mean to them.
Direct reciprocity
with aggressive/ anti-social acts; appears early in child
development. (child does it to just the person who has done them harm)
Generalised reciprocity
With prosocial acts, children return that behaviour to just about anyone
When it comes to morality, what does prosocial behaviour institute
Actions that are morally good
Moral rules
Right vs Wrong
What does moral rules encourage
It encourages people to do what is best for the social group
How does one make people feel better in terms of morality
Performing morally good actions
In terms of the majority, what does immoral actions invoke
Pleasure
Morning morality effect
likelihood of immoral actions increases later in the day. [to do with self-control which is dependent on energy resource]
Moral Reasoning
using logical deductions to make moral judgements based on abstract principles of right and wrong.
Moral Intuitions
judgements (about whether an action is right or wrong) that occur automatically and rely on emotional feelings.
1. Has more influence than reasoning
