Prosocial Behavior

Question 1

According to ______________________, prosocial behavior is the result of kin selection, which refers to a biological predisposition that developed as a means of ensuring the survival of our genes - i.e., by helping our offspring and other genetic relatives, we increase the likelihood of their survival and ability to pass their genes to future generations.

Answer 1

Evolutionary theory.

Question 2

The __________________ dictates that we should help others who have helped us, while the ______________________ prescribes that we should assist others who are in need of help whether or not they have helped us in the past or are likely to do so in the future.

Answer 2

• Norm of Reciprocity
• Norm of Social Responsibility

Question 3

One of the best known investigations on ___________________ is Sherif et al.’s (1961) Robber’s Cave study, in which groups of boys were placed into a situation promoting intergroup conflict, and different strategies were applied to reduce the conflict. Of these, the only one - introduction of ___________________ that could only be achieved through cooperation - was successful.

Answer 3

• Cooperation
• Superordinate goals

Question 4

Aronson and colleagues studied the consequences of superordinate goals by looking at the impact of the ________________ of learning for students in a 5th grade class, in which students had to learn parts of a section, and teach it to his/her teammates. This was found to reduce ethnic stereotyping, increase attraction to members of different groups, and enhanced students’ cooperation, self-esteem, and attitudes toward school. Benefits for academic achievement were more pronounced for ______________ students.

Answer 4

• Jigsaw method
• Minority

Question 5

Latane and Darley (1968) conducted a series of studies to investigate the phenomenon of ___________________, and found that bystanders were less likely to intervene in the presence of others than when alone, and that increased numbers corresponded to increased apathy.

Answer 5

Bystander apathy.

Question 6

Latane and Darley concluded that bystander apathy was due to at least 3 factors:

• ___________________: Bystanders conclude that assistance is unnecessary because others are not offering assistance
• ___________________: Bystanders do not help because they fear social disapproval
• ___________________: Bystanders do not accept personal responsibility for helping because they assume that others will offer help

Answer 6

• Pluralistic ignorance
• Evaluation apprehension
• Diffusion of responsibility