Human Prosociality (10.18 Lecture) Flashcards
what makes humans unique
humans work together to accumulate knowledge and skills across individuals and generations
what is the incorrect theory about why humans are unique?
generally smart: enhanced memory, faster learning, greater robust logical reasoning, longer-range planning
how are humans able to work together to accumulate knowledge and skills
socially smart - greater motivation and ability to coordinate behavior and psychological states with others, which creates accumulated skills and knowledge. This creates cumulative cultural evolution (“ratchet effect”) which can build upwards without losing progress
what is an example of the ratchet effect?
rock –> hatchet –> hammer –> etc.
what is prosociality?
intentional behavior performed with the goal of benefiting others (ex. parents caring for child, charity, etc.)
what are the ultimate explanations of prosociality?
immediate benefits, kin selection, direct reciprocity, indirect reciprocity
immediate benefits
prosociality in cooperation and collaboration can bring immediate benefits for all parties (ex. lions helping each other take bigger animal down –> larger meal)
kin selection
prosociality preserves genes
direct reciprocity
prosociality ears us future favors from the recipient
indirect reciprocity
prosociality earns us future favors from the group (get benefit from someone not directly involved) (ex. obligate collaborative foraging: must collaborate to get food, people who don’t help don’t eat, people who help get food, important to pick good partner) –> motivation to collaborate and be seen as a good collaborator
how do humans make themselves seen as a good collaborator (indirect reciprocity)
visibility - prosociality increases when people can make good deeds visible to other people in group (ex. “I voted” sticker)
accountability - prosociality should increase when there are social consequences for behavior
public goods game study
group of people with an amount of money, if all donated, more money to charity, but if one person didn’t, they get more and less money to charity. Found that when didn’t discuss with people and made decisions alone, fewer and fewer people donated to charity but when they were able to gossip, everyone donated. (gossip –> accountability)
is prosociality innate? (toddler study)
experimenter dropped something to see if toddlers would help, and they did. second study: puppet show with helpful and hurting object, preferred the helpful object (has to have googly eyes to look ‘human’).
is prosociality automatic?
system 1 vs. system 2. Most public hero award recipients reported acting without thinking (system 1). (public good games with time pressure) – fast decision led to donating more to charity
when are people less prosocial?
immediate benefit: when nothing in it for us
kin selection: when those in need aren’t related
direct reciprocity: when you won’t interact with someone in the future (favor won’t be returned)
indirect reciprocity: when behavior isn’t visible and there’s no accountability (ex. social media)
how do being in large groups impact a sense of responsibility when someone is in need?
less likely to help if large group
bystander effect
more people present, each person is less likely to help
study of someone on phone when receiver calls out for help
if on the phone by themselves, more likely to call for help vs. if in a room with multiple people on the call
pluralistic ignorance
people collectively ignorant of each other’s true attitudes and beliefs
diffusion of responsibility
people feel less individual responsibility when in a group (social referencing) look around to see response of others (visual cliff from emotion lecture, look to others to see how to respond) everyone tries to play it cool even if nervous on the inside, so then everyone ends up not acting
how does self-focus impact the likelihood people engage in prosocial behaviors?
we are more likely to think about ourselves and therefore less likely to help other people’s needs.
good samaritan study
people invited as a guest speaker, but when they get there asked to walk across a park to the event space where someone is laying down passed out. When people are told they are in a rush, don’t stop and see if the person needs help, but when have more time, more likely to stop and see if they’re okay.
when people aren’t in your group, is it likely they will be prosocial?
ingroup members have reputations you know about and you can hold them accountable.
outgroup people have an unknown reputation and you aren’t able to hold them accountable.
us vs. them
when people are in power, they prefer people “like them”
Mann U jersey study
3 people in need: one with Mann U jersey, one with Liverpool jersey, one with plain white shirt.
Pt 1: asked before why Mann U is the best team, then didn’t help the Liverpool person
Pt 2: asked before why soccer is the best sport, then helped rival team but not white shirt person
