The Self-Protective Altruist Flashcards
What is the central idea of Hirschberger, Ein-Dor, & Almakias (2008)?
The article explores how prosocial behavior is often motivated by self-protection, rather than pure altruism, due to the fear of death.
What does the concept of “self-protective altruism” refer to?
Self-protective altruism refers to engaging in prosocial behavior to manage existential anxiety and reduce the fear of death, rather than out of genuine concern for others.
What motivates the “self-protective altruist” to help others?
They help others to boost their self-esteem, affirm their worldview, or feel connected to something larger, thus reducing fear of mortality.
How does Terror Management Theory (TMT) explain prosocial behavior?
TMT suggests that people engage in prosocial behavior as a way of managing death anxiety and reinforcing a meaningful worldview to defend against existential fears.
What are some examples of self-protective altruistic behaviors?
Volunteering, charitable donations, helping others in need—especially when these actions help affirm personal identity or cultural beliefs.
How does mortality salience influence prosocial behavior?
Mortality reminders (mortality salience) can increase prosocial behaviors, such as donations and volunteering, especially when the cause aligns with self-esteem or worldview validation
What is the “ambivalent nature” of prosocial behavior?
Prosocial behavior can have mixed motives: it can stem from self-protective concerns as well as genuine empathy, leading to complexity in understanding people’s motivations.
How does the fear of death affect prosocial behavior toward certain groups?
People may be less likely to help individuals who remind them of their own mortality, such as those with disabilities, due to discomfort with mortality reminders.
What are the experimental findings in the article?
The research shows that mortality salience increases prosocial behavior when the cause supports worldview validation, but decreases it when the cause highlights mortality (e.g., organ donation or helping people with disabilities).
How do self-esteem and worldview validation play a role in prosocial behavior?
Prosocial behavior boosts self-esteem and reaffirms cultural worldviews, both of which help individuals feel more secure in their identity and less anxious about death.
What is the tension between altruism and self-protection in prosocial behavior?
The tension arises when the desire to help others conflicts with self-protective instincts—people may withdraw from helping if it reminds them of their own vulnerability or mortality.
What are the implications of this research for understanding altruism?
The research challenges the view that prosocial behavior is always purely altruistic, emphasizing the role of self-protective motives in shaping human kindness.
How does this research impact the design of interventions for prosocial behavior?
Interventions could be more effective if they appeal to people’s self-protective instincts, such as emphasizing how prosocial actions can alleviate existential anxiety.
What does the article suggest about the complexity of prosocial behavior?
Prosocial behavior is influenced by both internal motivations (like self-esteem) and external situational factors (like reminders of mortality), making it more complex than purely altruistic or empathetic acts.
How can cultural and social factors influence self-protective altruism?
Cultural worldviews and social beliefs shape how people interpret their actions, and they can increase prosocial behavior when these actions align with cultural norms or values.
