Helping others Flashcards
Why do we help others? What types of rewards do we get? Provide some real life examples.
Social Exchange Theory
- Explains how individuals view relationships through the mutual costs and benefits in the relationship.
- This theory proposes that helping others is mostly achieved when the individual believes the benefits outweigh the costs.
The benefits could include: Rewards
Helping others comes with rewards too.
- External rewards: tangible items; gifts and money. reputation, image.
- Internal rewards: increased self-worth, self-esteem, mood.
Evaluate the Social Exchange Theory.
- Cultural differences: what about cultures that emphasise on altruism and helping others?
- Overemphasis on selfish hedonistic needs: not every relationship is centered around self interest- some people may be willing to put in more input and benefit less.
What are the social norms that can affect how/if we help others? Provide examples.
Reciprocity norm: Gouldner (1960) states that this is universal, and we return help to those who help us.
For example:
- Buying your friend a coffee after they help you with something.
- Returning a favour to your superior.
- Helping your mum with rent.
However, this can also be used to manipulate others into a false sense of trust and intimacy.
- Buying gifts to get closer with someone; as if you owe them something back.
- When businesses give discounts or offers to guarantee a purchase.
Social responsibility norm: Those who need help should receive help, regardless of possible future exchange.
For example:
- Helping a teacher or superior.
- Donating to charities.
- Helping animals in distress.
What are some cultural differences which affect the approach to helping others? Cite studies.
Gronlund et al. (2011) states that helping others is viewed differently across cultures: reasons for volunteering:
- Western: to improve CV.
- Eastern: more altruistic reasons- to give back to the community, to help others, etc.
Myers et al. (1999) states that Western cultures are more likely to help those they sympathise with and are not at fault for their problems.
- Badahdah (2005) states that in collectivist cultures, specifically Saudi Arabia men would help their friend regardless if the issue was their fault or not, despite feeling angry with them and less empathetic when it was their fault.
What cultural differences can be said about helping within the family?
Myers et al. (1999)
- Western cultures: Parents are more sacrificial for their children than their children are for them.
- Collectivist cultures: Children are encouraged to help their family members as it is considered ‘repayment’ for the years of care they received.
How do gender differences affect helping?
Eagly and Crowley (1986) state that men help more women than men.
- They would also help women they found attractive than unattractive.
- Barclay (2010) supports this, saying that men may do this as a way to make up for their own looks.
Addis (2003) states that women are more likely to ask and receive help.
What is altruism? Does this promote helping? Cite studies.
Helping others without intent of benefiting from it.
Batson et al. (1987) states that helping is either:
- Egoistic: aims to help self/reduce self distress.
- Altruistic: aims to help others.
Schaller and Cialdini (1988) supports this with the notion that feeling empathetic does not guarantee helping others.
- When given an alternative solution to relieve distress (e.g., watching comedy tape), the individual is less likely to help.
- This makes it harder to discern between true altruism and egoistic motivations.
What is the effect of the presence of bystanders in situations requiring help? Cite studies.
Bystander effect: people are more likely to help alone than in the company of others.
- Genovese: a lady was murdered openly despite calling for help and being heard.
Latane and Darley (1968) as the number of bystanders increases, people were:
- Less likely to notice the incident.
- Less likely to presume an emergency.
- Less likely to feel responsible.
The reduced help can be due to:
- Nobody is reacting; everything is fine.
- May not feel responsible; someone else can do it.
What promotes helping?
Seeing someone else help somebody
- Rushton and Campbell (1977) states that those who just witnessed someone willing to donate blood makes them more likely to agree.
Similarity
- Similar face, DoB, clothing, and behaviour results in more likelihood to help.
Religion
Myers et al. (2010) states that those heavy religious believers are more likely to help.
Promote helping
Through responsibility
- Educate others of bystander effect
- Providing posters on how to help, etc.
Through guilt:
- Highlight benefits of helping; people help out of guilt to promote self image.
- Emphasise effects of not helping.
Watching others help.
