Helping & Altruism
PRO-SOCIAL BEHAVIOR: Behavior
that benefits other people
ALTRUISM: Prosocial behavior
that….
1. is voluntary
2. is costly to the doer
3. not
motivated by the anticipation of reward
Darley & Latane-- assumes that
people are not totally selfish. They
will help as long as these steps are taken.
1. Notice the emergency
2. Must interpret the
situation as an emergency
3. Must assume responsibility
for helping
4. Must choose a strategy
5. Implement the strategy
A MORE NEGATIVE MODEL OF
HELPING
Pilliavin & Rodin (1975)
*Main point is that by
helping, one can reduce physiological arousal (neg. emotion)
SITUATIONAL VARIABLES THAT
DETERMINE HELPING BEHAVIOR
I BYSTANDER EFFECT
(Latane
& Rodin, 1969)
Subject alone--------75%
helped
Subjects in pairs----20%
helped
REASONS FOR THE BYSTANDER
EFFECT
Informational influence
Normative influence
Diffusion of responsibility
STRONG IMPLICATION (could
save your life)
If you need help, single
someone out and ask them for help.
1.
makes them
interpret the situation as an emergency
2.
forces them to
assume responsibility
II HIGH COSTS TO HELPING
e.g., time pressure increases
personal costs to helping
The good
Samaritan Study
Darley & Batson (1978)
IV= time pressure vs. no time
pressure
DV=% of people that helped
Time pressure---------10%
helped
No time pressure------66%
helped
III HELPFUL PERSONALITIES
Huston, Geis,
& Wright (1972)
2 personality variables
1. high
risk taking
2. low
boiling point: very easily angered, impulsive, & spontaneous