Social Influence - Prosocial Behaviour (social & dispositional) Flashcards
Name the two social factors of pro social behaviour
Presence of others
Cost of helping
Name the two dispositional factors of pro social behaviour
Similarity to victim
Expertise
Explain presence of others
Bystander effect states that the more people are present the less likely that help is given.
Darley and Latané asked participants to have a discussion on an intercom with others (confederates). One had an epileptic seizure and asked for help.
If participants thought they were alone 85% reported the seizure compared to 31% if they thought four others were present.
Evaluate presence of others
It depends on the situation and the cost of not helping. In very serious emergencies when immediate actions are needed help is given (Faul et al.).
Explain cost of helping
Decision of whether to help depends on costs:
Cost of helping includes: danger to self or embarrassment.
Cost of not helping includes: guilt, blame, leaving another in need.
Cost-reward model: Balance between costs and rewards of helping.
Evaluate cost of helping
Help also depends on how the situation is interpreted, e.g. man and woman arguing, 65% intervened when the woman shouted, ‘I don’t know you’ but only 19% when shouting ‘I don’t know why I married you’ (Shotland and Straw).
Explain similarity to victim
If you identify with a characteristic of the victim you are more likely to help.
Manchester United football fans were more likely to help a runner who had fallen over if they were dressed in a Manchester United shirt as opposed to a Liverpool one (Levine et al.).
Evaluate similarity to victim
Similarity may increase helping but, for example, if the costs are too high or the situation is ambiguous it is not sufficient to guarantee helping.
Explain expertise
People with specialist skills are more likely to help in emergency situations that suit their expertise.
Registered nurses were much more likely to help a workman who had fell off a ladder (Cramer et al.).
Evaluate expertise
In contrast people who had received red cross training were no more likely to help a victim who was bleeding a lot than people who had received no training but gave higher quality help (Shotland and Heinold).
