S1 Topic 4 - Prosocial Behaviour

Question 1

Define prosocial behaviour
Give 3 examples

Answer 1

voluntary actions that are intended to help or benefit another individual - hence has positive social consequences

e.g., donating blood, donating organs, fostering

Question 2

Define altruism

Answer 2

the desire to help another person, even if it involves a cost to the helper

Question 3

Why is altruism different from helping behaviour?

Answer 3

Helping behaviour is carried out with the intention of deriving personal benefit, while altruism doesn’t consider personal benefit

Question 4

What are the 2 possible reasons for prosocial behaviour?

Answer 4

altruism
egoism

Question 5

What are the benefits of helping behaviour to the helper? (5)

Answer 5

• less hopelessness
• better mental health
• less depression
• higher levels of adjustment
• longevity in older adults

Question 6

What are the biological explanations to why people help? (2)

Answer 6

prosocial action leads to similar brain activity in pleasure and reward centeres

helping produces neurotransmitters such as oxytocin, which is produced during pleasurable experiences

Question 7

What is the psychoanalytical theory of prosocial behaviour?

Answer 7

prosocial and altruistic behaviour is an attempt to defend ourselves against internal conflicts and anxieties

Question 8

What is the learning theory of prosocial behaviour?

Answer 8

we learn prosocial behaviour to receive rewards

Question 9

What is the sociobiological theory of prosocial behaviour?

Answer 9

we help others because our survival depends on it

Question 10

Explain the group selection theory

Answer 10

altruism between groups is adaptation for group survival as it confers a competitive advantage and gives the members better chances of survival

Question 11

What are 2 common features of the 3 models of helping (Latane & Darley, Piliavin et al, and Schwartz

Answer 11

• people progress through steps in making a decision to help or not help
• cognitive process such as interpreting a situation and weighing the consequences of alternative choices occur

Question 12

What are 4 factors that influence prosocial behaviour - explain each one

Answer 12

similarity - we are more likely to help those similar to us

attraction - we are more willing to help someone we find attractive (both physical and personality wise)

relationship - we are more likely to help family, friends, or members of groups we belong to

nature of situation - we are more likely to help someone if we regard the situation as important/worthy

Question 13

What are the 4 most common theories of prosocial behaviour?

Answer 13

Kin selection
Reciprocity norm
Empathy-altruism hypothesis
Social exchange theory

Question 14

Explain the theory of kin selection

Answer 14

we are more likely to help family members due to evolution - preserving the bloodline

Question 15

Explain the theory of the reciprocity norm

Answer 15

a person helps another as a form of insurance so that if they need them in the future, help will be given

Question 16

Explain the empathy-altruism hypothesis

Answer 16

a man is more likely to help a person if they are in a situation he’s experienced himself

Question 17

Explain the social-exchange theory

Answer 17

when deciding to help or not help a person, we consciously and unconsciously monitor costs and rewards, which affects our decision

Question 18

What is the bystander effect?

Answer 18

the more people there are in the vicinity of a person in need, the less likely the person will be helped

Question 19

What is diffusion of responsibility?

Answer 19

the belief that others will take responsibility for providing assistance to a person in need

Question 20

Which 3 social processes account for the bystander effect?

Answer 20

Social influences
Audience inhibition
Diffusion of responsibility