Psychology of Helping Behavior
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Psychology of Helping Behavior

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Questions and Answers

Match the helping motivation with its description:

Social Exchange Theory = People help when benefits outweigh costs Feel Bad, Do Good = Helping to relieve negative feelings Feel Good, Do Good = Happy people are more likely to help Social Norms = Expectations to help those who have helped us

Match the helping behavior concept with its definition:

Kin selection = Altruism toward close relatives Reciprocity = Helping those who help you Social-responsibility norm = Helping those who cannot reciprocate Group selection = Survival of supportive altruistic groups

Match the type of emotional state with its helping behavior impact:

Sadness = Leads to increased helping if not self-preoccupied Happiness = Leads to positive behavior and helping Guilt = Can motivate someone to volunteer time Grief = Can decrease likelihood of helping

Match the theory with its emphasis on reasons for helping:

<p>Social Exchange Theory = Weighing costs and benefits Evolutionary Psychology = Survival and gene propagation Genuine Altruism = Empathy and emotional connection Social Norms = Expectations within a community</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the type of social capital with an example:

<p>Reciprocity norm = Helping those who have helped us Social-responsibility norm = Helping victims of natural disasters Kin selection = Identical twins cooperating Group selection = Supportive groups outlasting non-supportive groups</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following factors with their descriptions regarding helping behavior:

<p>Number of Bystanders = Inhibits helping due to misinterpretation of others' actions Time Pressures = Decreases likelihood of helping when in a hurry Similarity = Increases helping behavior towards those who share common traits Helping When Someone Else Does = Encourages individual to act after witnessing another's assistance</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the experimental findings with their implications for helping behavior:

<p>Smoke-filled Room Study = Group members taking longer to notice danger Seizure Study = People less likely to help if they believe others can assist Donating Blood Study = Observing assistance increases individual willingness to help Seminary Students Study = Hurrying decreases likelihood of providing help</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the personality aspects to their influence on helping behavior:

<p>Personality Traits = Some individuals are consistently more helpful Gender = May influence the likelihood and manner of helping Religious Faith = Can motivate individuals to engage in helping behaviors Empathy = Drives individuals to help others beyond self-interest</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the aiding factors with their context of influence:

<p>Group Passivity = Leads to delayed action in emergency situations Similar Appearance = Increases the likelihood of assistance Observed Helping = Encourages others to provide help Availability of Time = Promotes helping behavior when people aren't rushed</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the bystander effect and how does it influence helping behavior?

<p>The bystander effect is the phenomenon where individuals are less likely to help a victim when others are present, due to diffusion of responsibility and pluralistic ignorance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain how empathy can motivate individuals to help in emergency situations.

<p>Empathy can drive people to help others, even if their own mood isn't affected, as seen when participants took the place of a woman receiving electric shocks.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do time pressures affect the likelihood of helping behavior?

<p>When people are in a hurry, they are less likely to help others, as demonstrated in a study where rushed seminary students ignored a man in distress.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Discuss the role of similarity in influencing helping behavior.

<p>People are more inclined to help others who share similarities with them, such as appearance or beliefs, which can create a sense of connection.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What situational factor can increase the likelihood of helping behavior when observed?

<p>Observing someone else helping increases the likelihood that an individual will also help, demonstrating the impact of social modeling.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does social exchange theory play in helping behavior?

<p>Social exchange theory suggests that people help when the perceived benefits outweigh the costs, which can be either external rewards or internal feelings of guilt or satisfaction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the emotional state of a person influence their likelihood to help others?

<p>Sad people often help others to alleviate their own negative feelings, while happy people are predisposed to helping due to positive moods enhancing their self-esteem.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of social norms in encouraging helping behavior?

<p>Social norms like the reciprocity norm and social-responsibility norm motivate individuals to help others by establishing expectations for mutual assistance and supporting those in need.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain the concept of kin selection in the context of evolutionary psychology and helping behavior.

<p>Kin selection posits that altruistic behavior is more likely directed toward close relatives, as helping them increases the chances of passing on shared genes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes genuine altruism from other motivations for helping others?

<p>Genuine altruism is characterized by empathy, where individuals help others out of a genuine concern for their well-being rather than for personal gain or external rewards.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Why Do We Help?

  • Social Exchange Theory: People help when the benefits outweigh the costs. The benefits can be external (money, recognition) or internal (feeling good about oneself).
  • Feel Bad, Do Good: People often help others to relieve negative feelings. Helping behavior can be a way to cope with sadness or guilt.
  • Feel Good, Do Good: Happy people are helpful people. Good moods lead to positive thoughts and self-esteem, which predisposes us to positive behavior.
  • Social Norms: Social expectations can motivate helping behavior.
    • Reciprocity Norm: We should help those who have helped us. This norm is essential for building social capital--supportive connections that make a community healthier.
    • Social-Responsibility Norm: We should help those who need help, even if they cannot reciprocate. It's important to note that this norm is not universally applied. The norm applies more to those who seem to be deserving of help (e.g., victims of natural disasters) than to those who seem to be responsible for their own problems.
  • Evolutionary Psychology: Helping behavior is rooted in our genes, increasing the likelihood of survival.
    • Kin Selection: Altruism toward close relatives helps to pass shared genes. For example, identical twins are more likely to cooperate than fraternal twins.
    • Reciprocity: Works best in small groups where individuals will repeatedly encounter each other.
    • Group Selection: Groups of mutually supportive altruists outlast groups of non-altruists.
  • Genuine Altruism: Some helping behavior is purely altruistic, motivated by empathy, the ability to put oneself in another's shoes and feel their emotions. Empathy motivates us to help, even when our mood will be unaffected.

When Will We Help?

  • Number of Bystanders: The presence of other bystanders can inhibit helping.
    • Less likely to notice the incident: This is illustrated by a study where smoke was pumped into a room, participants in groups took longer to notice than those who were alone.
    • Less likely to interpret the incident as an emergency: The illusion of transparency (tendency to overestimate how well others can read our internal states) contributes to this misinterpretation. Individuals in groups are less likely to express concern because they mistakenly believe that others aren't concerned. The misinterpretation, in turn, leads to pluralistic ignorance: individuals mistakenly believe that their own thoughts and feelings are different from those of others, resulting in a failure to act.
    • Less likely to assume responsibility: Diffusion of responsibility makes individuals feel less accountable for helping. The bystander effect occurs when the presence of others can reduce the likelihood of intervening.
  • Helping When Someone Else Does: Observing someone else helping can increase helping behavior.
  • Time Pressures: We are more likely to help when we aren't in a hurry.
  • Similarity: We are more likely to help those who are similar to us.

Who Will Help?

  • Personality Traits: Some people are consistently more helpful than others.
  • Gender: Women are more likely to help than men, but this depends on the type of help required.
  • Religious Faith: People who are more religious are more likely to help, particularly if the person needing help shares their religious beliefs.

Why Do We Help?

  • Social Exchange Theory: Helping is driven by weighing potential benefits vs. costs.
    • Rewards: Can be external (money, recognition) or internal (feeling good).
    • Internal Rewards: Can relieve guilt, motivating people to volunteer after lying.
  • Feel Bad, Do Good: Helping relieves negative emotions.
    • Sad People: Help more, unless consumed by grief or depression.
  • Feel Good, Do Good: Happiness fuels altruism.
    • Positive Moods: Lead to positive thoughts, self-esteem, and helping behavior.
  • Social Norms: Expectations influence helping.
    • Reciprocity Norm: Help those who have helped us, building social capital.
    • Social-Responsibility Norm: Help those in need, even without reciprocation, especially if they deserve it.
  • Evolutionary Psychology: Helping behavior stems from genes, increasing survival.
    • Kin Selection: Altruism towards close relatives ensures shared gene survival.
    • Reciprocity: Works best in small groups with repeated encounters.
    • Group Selection: Groups of altruists outlast non-altruistic groups.
  • Genuine Altruism: Some helping is purely altruistic, driven by empathy.
    • Empathy: Ability to feel another's emotions encourages helping, even if mood is unaffected.

When Will We Help?

  • Number of Bystanders: More bystanders make helping less likely.
    • Less likely to notice: Groups take longer to notice incidents than individuals.
    • Less likely to interpret as an emergency: Fueled by illusion of transparency, assuming others understand our thoughts.
    • Less likely to take responsibility: Diffusion of responsibility makes individuals feel less accountable.
  • Helping When Someone Else Does: Observing another helping increases the likelihood of helping.
  • Time Pressures: People are more likely to help when less rushed.
  • Similarity: More likely to help those similar to us (appearance, beliefs, shared identities).

Who Will Help?

  • Personality Traits: Some consistently help more than others.
    • Agreeableness and Conscientiousness: Associated with high helping rates.
  • Gender: Men are more likely to help in heroic, dangerous situations while women are more likely to help in caring, nurturing situations.
  • Religious Faith: Religiously committed people tend to help more, especially those committed to a specific religion.

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Explore the various theories behind why we help others in this engaging quiz. From social exchange theory to social norms, discover the motivations that drive helping behavior and how our emotions influence our actions towards others.

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