Prosocial Behaviour Flashcards
What is prosocial behaviour?
Behaviour that has positive social consequences and
contributes to the physical or psychological well-being
of another person. Voluntary and has the intention of helping others.
What is helping behaviour?
Intentional and benefits another living being in a group
What are the 4 motives for helping?
Egoism, altruism, collectivism, principlism
What is egoism?
Helping secure social and self-reward and escape punishment
What is principlism?
Moral principles
What is altruism?
An act that benefits another rather than oneself
What are the personal, social and situational factors when people help?
Empathy based altruism, the nature of the need, the perception of the victim, the mood, competence
What is empathy based altruism?
Motivated by an emotional response to someone’s distress
What is the nature of the need?
More likely to help if the perceived need is clear, unambiguous, legitimate and uncontrollable
What is the perception of the victim?
We are more likely to help if the victim is similar to you
How does mood effect prosocial?
We are more likely to help if you are in a good mood or need an external influence to make you feel good
Why are people in bad mood less likely to show prosocial behaviour?
Concentration on themselves and their problems and less on others
What are the personal, social, situational factors when people do not help?
Diffusion of responsibility, audience inhibition, social influence
What is diffusion of responsibility?
Believing someone else would help to reduce the feelings of responsibility
What is audience inhibition?
Not helping due to fear of looking foolish or incompetent in front of others
What is social influence?
We are less likely to help if other onlookers seem unfazed by the situation
What are examples of personal factors?
Feelings of guilt, considering one’s self a helpful person, feeling in control, feeling like the leader of a group, gender
What are the gender differences?
Males are more helpful to woman but woman show more empathy
What does being leader cause in prosocial behaviour?
Acts as a cue for responsibility, less diffusion of responsibility
Who looked at personality according to prosocial behaviour?
Caprara, Alessandri and Eisenberg
What did Caprara, Alessandri and Eisenberg find?
People who score high on attributes of agreeableness and empathetic self-efficacy are more prosocial
What physical characteristics are more likely to be helpful?
Physically stronger, taller, heavier
What attachment style is more prosocial?
Secure