Prosocial Behaviour

Question 1

Prosocial behavior?

Answer 1

Behavior that intends to benefit one or more other people
Includes but not limited to helping

Question 2

What does it mean that Prosociality is adaptive?

Answer 2

Protecting our gene pool drives social behavior
- Not just protecting our selves, but relatives (inclusive fitness)

Kin selection:
Evolved ability to recognise genetic relatives + more likely to help them

Question 3

When are we most likely to help friends vs. relatives?

Answer 3

Equally likely to help friends and relatives in everyday situations

But more likely to help relatives in extraordinary or life- threatening situations

Question 4

Reciprocity? + Norm for reciprocity

Answer 4

The increased likelihood that an individual will comply with a request from a person or an entity who has previously done a favour for that individual

Norm for reciprocity:
A belief whereby we should return favours and other acts of kindness

Question 5

Prosociality due to
norms for…

Answer 5

• Reciprocity
• Social responsibility

Norms keep societies
together

Question 6

People are motivated to be prosocial
because… (2)

Answer 6

Egoist Motive:
There is a benefit (e.g., feels good, there is a return, we receive recognition)

Altruistic Motive:
People are purely empathic and compassionate

Question 7

Theory of Empathy -Induced Altruistic Motivation (Watson et al. 2007)?

Answer 7

Non-egoistic motivation as possible!

Perceive another in need + Value person’s welfare
->
Empathic Concern (feelings of sympathy, compassion, tenderness)
->
Altruistic motivation to relieve other’s need (empathy-altruism hypothesis)

Question 8

What factors or contexts affect helping others?

Answer 8

Time Pressure
- Cognitive narrowing/inattention

Location
- Stimulus overload

Mood
- Focus on benefits
- Mood management hypothesis

Question 9

Arousal: Cost-Reward Model (e.g., Dovidio et al., 2012) ?

Answer 9

Others’ distress causes negative arousal
Motivated to relieve arousal by helping

Help dependent on…
- Amount of arousal (more serious situation)
- Closer relationship with other
- Potential rewards versus costs

Question 10

Bystander effect?

Answer 10

When people fail to offer needed help in emergencies, especially when other people are present in the same setting

Question 11

Bystander effect in the
past and digital age?

Answer 11

Watching lives of violence and criminality without interception by calling the police

Question 12

Five Steps to Helping in an Emergency? + Barriers

Answer 12

1. Notice the event
   - Distraction
   - Self-concern
2. Interpret as emergency
   - Ambiguity
   - Pluralistic ignorance
3. Take responsibility
   - Diffusion of responsibility
4. Decide how to help
   - Lack of competence
5. Provide help
   - Costs vs. benefits