sociocultural erq 2 Flashcards
Arousal cost reward model
The arousal cost reward model proposes that when we see someone in distress, we have an emotional reaction followed by us weighing the costs and benefits to helping. If the cost outweighs the reward, we are less likely to help. If the reward outweighs the cost, we are more likely to help.
Piliavin et al study
The aim of Piliavin et al’s study was to test how situation factors influence prosocial behavior. The procedure involved New York subway travelers witnessing either a man who appeared ill or a man who appeared drunk fall onto the floor of a subway. The results found that the people helped the man who appeared ill 95% of the time, whereas people helped the man who appeared drunk 50% of the time. The average time it took for someone to help the man who appeared ill was 5 seconds, whereas the average time it took for someone to help the man who appeared drunk was 109 seconds. This study connects to the arousal cost reward model.
Bystander and the bystander effect
A bystander is someone who witnesses, but does not partake in an event. The bystander effect describes how the presence of others discourages an individual from intervening in an emergency situation. People often diffuse responsibly by assuming that others will help.
Darley and Latane study
Darley and Latane’s study involved students being told they were taking part in an anonymous interview. Students were told they were either alone, there was 1 other person, or there were 4 other people, depending on the condition. During the interview, a recording of the interviewer crying for help would be played. The results found that when the students thought they were alone, they helped 85% of the time. When they were told 1 other person was present, they helped 65% of the time. When they were told 4 other people were present, they helped 31% of the time. This study connects to the bystander effect.
Latane and Rodin study
Latane and Rodin’s study involved participants sitting in a waiting room, during which they would hear the experimenter cry for help in the next room. The results found that the participants reacted quicker when they were alone than when they were sitting with a confederate who did not react to the situation. This study connects to the bystander effect.
Whiting and Whiting study
The aim of Whiting and Whiting’s study was to investigate the role of culture on prosocial behavior. The procedure involved observing children from the Philippines, the U.S., Japan, India, Mexico, and Kenya. The results found that children from the Philippines and Mexico acted more prosocial. Children from the U.S., Japan, India acted less prosocial. The results indicate that the degree to which a country is modernized influences prosocial behavior.
Levine et al study
The aim of Levine et al’s study was to investigate the role of culture on helping behavior. The procedure involved participants witnessing either someone dropping a pen, someone who appears to have a limp dropping and then struggling to pick up magazines, or someone who appears blind with a cane crossing the street on a green light. The results found that participants from poorer countries were overall more helpful. The results indicate that countries with less economic productivity tend to be more traditional and thus, value helping others.
Greitemeyer and Osswald study
The aim of Greitemeyer and Osswald’s study was to investigate whether video games can promote prosocial behavior. The procedure involved students being assigned to play a prosocial or neutral video game. The participants then witnessed a situation where a male researcher acted aggressively towards a female researcher. The results found that 20% of the participants who played a neutral video game intervened, whereas 60% of the participants who played the prosocial video game intervened. The results indicate that playing prosocial video games has at least a short-term effect on someone’s likelihood to act prosocially.
Sprafkin et al study
The aim of Sprafkin et al’s study was to test whether television with prosocial content promoted prosocial behavior. The procedure involved 6 year old children watching either a video about a dog saving her puppies, if they were in the prosocial condition, or a dog demonstrating no prosocial behavior, if they were in the control condition. The results found that children exposed to the prosocial condition were more likely to help a puppy afterwards, when being given the chance to, compared to those in the control condition.
Banyard et al study
Banyard et al’s study aimed to see whether prosocial behavior could be teached. The procedure involved undergraduates being in 1 of 3 conditions. In the first condition, participants had 3 sessions on how to help during sexual assault situations. In the second condition, participants only had 1 of these sessions. In the third condition, participants did not receive any sessions. After 4 months, surveys were given to participants to determine their understanding of sexual assault and their likelihood of intervening during that situation. The results found that condition 1 and 2 had significantly improved on their understanding of the topic and likeliness to intervene.
Staub study
Staub’s study aimed to see if prosocial behavior could be learned. The study involved asking young children to engage in activities that would either help strangers or themselves/people they know. For example, in the first condition, children were asked to make toys for sick children, whereas in the second condition, they would be asked to make a toy for themselves. The results found that children who engaged in prosocial behavior that benefited strangers were more likely to help when placed in a situation where help was needed.
