Task 4- Relational Influences

Question 1

what is pro-social behaviour?

Answer 1

a helping behaviour that benefits others and society- it’s normally voluntary- can be altruistic in nature- can be an automatic response or a deliberate response

Question 2

what is meant by biological explanations (nature)?

Answer 2

sees pro-social behaviour as genetic- humans naturally assist others in a way of protecting our common gene pool

Question 3

what is meant by environmental (nurture)?

Answer 3

the view that pro-social behaviour is not innate, but that it is learned during the socialisation process

Question 4

what factors influence pro-social behaviour?

Answer 4

the situation, social forms, personal characteristics and altruism

Question 5

explain how the ‘situation’ impacts pro-social behaviour

Answer 5

if the need is apparent, then help is likely- if the need is a little ambiguous, help is less likely

Question 6

how does the environmental setting impact pro-social behaviour

Answer 6

people in the country, less dense population, more likely to help- people in the city, more dense population, less likely to help

Question 7

how does an emergency impact prosocial behaviour?

Answer 7

people need to act in an unplanned, immediate and often unfamiliar manner to the helper, in order to save a life- non-emergency situations, which are more planned in nature tend to require more deliberate and planned actions (ie helping people with an ongoing illness)

Question 8

what is the bystander effect?

Answer 8

when a bystander is more likely to help others in an emergency when they are alone rather than when others are around

Question 9

what factors influence the bystander effect (decision stage model of helping)

Answer 9

1. noticing the need for help
2. deciding that it is an emergency
3. deciding to take responsibility
4. deciding on a way to help
5. taking action to help

Question 10

what is a social norm?

Answer 10

a form of action or behaviour that is standardised and expected in society- learned behaviours

Question 11

what are 2 norms that influence the likelihood of prosocial behaviour?

Answer 11

• reciprocity principle- do unto others as they do unto you
• social responsibility norm- people in society are expected to help those in need without the need for the favour to be returned

Question 12

what are some personal characteristics of a helper?

Answer 12

• empathy (we find it unpleasant to see someone suffering)
• arousal (alleviates the unpleasant feeling)
• similarity (more like ourselves- want to help more)

Question 13

what is anti-social behaviour?

Answer 13

behaviour that is harmful to others or the greater community (aggression, prejudice)

Question 14

what factors influence anti-social behaviour?

Answer 14

the situation and the bystander effect

Question 15

what is the number of factors?

Answer 15

diffusion of responsibility- everyone believes it is someone else’s responsibility

Question 16

what is audience inhibition?

Answer 16

people are self-conscious about helping others and what they will think

Question 17

what is social influence?

Answer 17

reactions of others

Question 18

what is proximity of the victim?

Answer 18

the greater the distance, the less likely a person is to help

Question 19

what is nature of the bystander?

Answer 19

past experience, awareness of norms, mood, etc

Question 20

what is the cost-benefit analysis?

Answer 20

a model proposed by Piliavin and colleagues in 1981- suggests that bystanders are usually present within emergency’s

Question 21

what does deindividuation?

Answer 21

it’s when individuals lose their sense of being identified- less feeling of guilt- more likely to commit anti-social behaviour

Question 22

what is aggression?

Answer 22

behaviour that is directed towards another person which can cause harm- eg hostile (driven by pain or distress) or instrumental (result of deliberate planning)

Question 23

what is the biological explanation of aggression?

Answer 23

the suggestion that aggression is a human instinct

Question 24

what is the social learning theory?

Answer 24

a suggestion that both pro and anti social behaviour can be learned through various experiences (involves modelling, imitation and reward)

Question 25

what is the nature of aggression?

Answer 25

• personal factors (characteristics)
• circumstances of the aggressor (discomfort)
• perceived disadvantage
• deindividuation
• conformity to norms

Question 26

how can a person reduce aggression?

Answer 26

• observe non-aggressive models
• display unpredictable responses to aggression (ie humour)
• teaching people cognitive strategies

Question 27

what is Dunphy’s formation of social groups?

Answer 27

the study of the development of social groups through adolescence

Question 28

how many social groups did Dunphy develop?

Answer 28

3- dyads (pair), cliques (small groups), crowds (large groups)

Question 29

what are Dunphy’s 5 stages?

Answer 29

1. cliques
2. development of crowd
3. heterosexual groups
4. fully developed crowd
5. separation- group splits

Question 30

what is the Kitty Genovese case?

Answer 30

it was a case that took place within Queens, New York in which a 28 year old female was violently stabbed to death and later raped, and robbed by Winston Moseley, The case is well known as there were many people inside their homes who heard Kitty’s cries for help- however they did not come to her aid as they believed that there was probably someone else present who was helping her- this later became a focal point for the bystander effect