M8: Social Networks

Question 1

Altruism debate

Answer 1

Some psychologists believe we engage in truly selfless giving when we feel empathy for another person in need, some believe there is no such thing as pure altruism and that when empathy leads us to help it is just to reduce our own negative feelings

Question 2

Activating a common identity

Answer 2

when people share an identity with another person, giving to that person takes on an “otherish” quality”

if we help people who belong to our group, we’re also helping ourselves as we are making the group better off

Question 3

Generalized giving and direct matching

Answer 3

Generalized giving = freecycle

direct matching = craigslist
- exchange is an economic transaction where both parties are maximizing value