20 Questions
What is prosocial behaviour?
Any act performed with the goal of benefiting another person.
Give an example of prosocial behaviour.
Recycling, doing a favor, volunteering, saving a life.
What determines whether prosocial behaviour is self-interested or altruistic?
The motivation behind the act.
Define altruism.
The desire to help others, even if it involves a cost to the helper.
Why do people help?
The reasons behind helping others can vary.
What are personal determinants of prosocial behaviour?
Factors related to the individual, such as empathy and personality traits.
What are situational determinants of prosocial behaviour?
Factors related to the situation, such as bystander effect or presence of others.
What is bystander intervention?
The act of helping someone in need when others are present.
Is prosocial behaviour always selfless?
No, it can be motivated by self-interest or altruism.
Explain the concept of cost to the helper in altruism.
Altruism involves helping others even if it comes at a personal cost to the helper.
What is kin selection and how does it relate to prosocial behavior?
Kin selection is the idea that behavior that helps a genetic relative is favored by natural selection. It relates to prosocial behavior because individuals may be more likely to help their genetic relatives in order to increase their own genetic fitness.
What is the norm of reciprocity and how does it influence prosocial behavior?
The norm of reciprocity is the expectation that helping others will increase the likelihood that they will help us in the future. It influences prosocial behavior by motivating individuals to help others in the hope of receiving future assistance.
What is the empathy-altruism hypothesis and how does it explain prosocial behavior?
The empathy-altruism hypothesis suggests that when we feel empathy for a person, we will attempt to help purely for altruistic reasons, regardless of what we have to gain. It explains prosocial behavior by emphasizing the role of empathy in motivating individuals to help others selflessly.
What is the altruistic personality and how does it contribute to prosocial behavior?
The altruistic personality is a personality trait characterized by sympathy, empathy, and felt responsibility to help others across a variety of situations. It contributes to prosocial behavior by making individuals more likely to engage in helping behaviors.
How do gender differences influence prosocial behavior?
Men and women help in different ways, with men often engaging in heroic acts of helping and women often engaging in caregiving behaviors.
How do socioeconomic differences impact prosocial behavior?
There are mixed findings regarding the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on prosocial behavior. However, some research suggests that individuals with lower SES may be more likely to help.
How do cultural differences affect prosocial behavior?
Cultural differences influence prosocial behavior in terms of in-group/out-group dynamics, with individuals showing more empathy and social exchange behavior towards their in-group. Interdependent cultures tend to help in-group members, while individualistic cultures may extend help to out-group members.
How does religion relate to prosocial behavior?
Religion is associated with prosocial behavior due to communal, moral norms and accountability. While the overall association between religion and prosocial behavior is consistent across different religions, the specific content of prosocial behavior may vary.
What role does mood play in prosocial behavior?
Mood can influence prosocial behavior. For example, positive moods may increase the likelihood of helping, while negative moods such as sadness and guilt may also motivate individuals to engage in prosocial behavior.
What is the bystander effect and how does it impact prosocial behavior?
The bystander effect refers to the finding that the greater the number of bystanders who witness an emergency, the less likely it is that any one of them will help. It impacts prosocial behavior by decreasing the likelihood of individuals offering assistance in emergency situations when others are present.
Study Notes
Prosocial Behavior
- Prosocial behavior refers to voluntary actions intended to benefit others, such as helping, donating, or volunteering.
Altruism
- Altruism is a type of prosocial behavior that is motivated by a genuine desire to help others, without expecting anything in return.
- Altruism is often contrasted with self-interested prosocial behavior, which is motivated by personal gain or reward.
Determinants of Prosocial Behavior
- Personal determinants of prosocial behavior include:
- Empathy and emotional responsiveness
- Moral values and principles
- Personality traits, such as agreeableness and extraversion
- Situational determinants of prosocial behavior include:
- Social norms and expectations
- Environmental factors, such as noise or crowding
- Presence of others, or diffusion of responsibility
Bystander Intervention
- Bystander intervention occurs when someone helps in an emergency situation, often in the presence of others.
- Factors that influence bystander intervention include:
- Presence of others, or diffusion of responsibility
- Norms and expectations of helping
- Emotional arousal and empathy
Costs of Altruism
- The cost to the helper in altruism refers to the physical, emotional, or financial sacrifices made by the helper.
- This concept highlights the potential negative consequences of altruistic behavior.
Kin Selection and Prosocial Behavior
- Kin selection is the idea that individuals help relatives because it increases the chances of their genes being passed on.
- This concept relates to prosocial behavior by explaining why people may be more likely to help family members or close relatives.
Norm of Reciprocity
- The norm of reciprocity is the expectation that people will help others who have helped them in the past.
- This concept influences prosocial behavior by creating a sense of obligation to return favors.
Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis
- The empathy-altruism hypothesis proposes that feeling empathy for others motivates altruistic behavior.
- This concept explains prosocial behavior as a result of emotional connection and concern for others.
Altruistic Personality
- The altruistic personality refers to a set of characteristics, such as empathy and kindness, that predispose individuals to engage in prosocial behavior.
Gender, Socioeconomic, and Cultural Differences
- Gender differences in prosocial behavior: women tend to be more empathetic and altruistic, while men tend to be more aggressive and competitive.
- Socioeconomic differences: people from higher socioeconomic backgrounds tend to be more altruistic, possibly due to increased resources and opportunities.
- Cultural differences: cultural norms and values influence prosocial behavior, with some cultures emphasizing collectivism and others emphasizing individualism.
Religion and Prosocial Behavior
- Religion can influence prosocial behavior by promoting moral values and norms of helping.
Mood and Prosocial Behavior
- Mood can impact prosocial behavior, with positive emotions, such as happiness, increasing the likelihood of helping.
Bystander Effect
- The bystander effect occurs when the presence of others inhibits helping behavior, often due to diffusion of responsibility.
- This concept highlights the potential negative consequences of group situations on prosocial behavior.
Test your knowledge on prosocial behavior and its determinants with this quiz. Explore topics such as personal and situational factors that influence prosocial behavior, as well as the concept of bystander intervention. Challenge yourself to understand the motivations behind helping others and the various forms it can take.
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