Influences on Prosocial Behavior
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Influences on Prosocial Behavior
1/28/13
Plan for Today
•Why do we help?
•The Kitty Genovese case & it’s importance for social psychology
•Individual differences that influence helping behavior
Questionnaire
Imagine yourself in each of the following situations. Pick the action that best describes what you would do.
6 QuestionsWrite down the letter of your choice
#1You have come across a lost wallet with a large sum of money in it, as well as the identification of the owner. You:
A) Return the wallet without letting the owner know who you areB) Return the wallet in hopes of receiving a rewardC) Keep the wallet and the moneyD) Leave the wallet where you found it
#2A person in one of your classes is having trouble at home and with school work. You:
A) Help the person as much as you canB) Tell the person not to bother youC) Leave the person alone to work out his or her own problemsD) Agree to tutor the person for a reasonable fee
#3When it comes to cooperation when you would rather not, you usually:
A) Cooperate if it is helpful to othersB) Cooperate if it is helpful to yourselfC) Refuse to get involvedD) Avoid situations where you might
be asked to cooperate
#4A neighbor calls you and asks for a ride to a store that is six blocks away. You:
A) Refuse, thinking you will never need a favor from him (or her)B) Explain that you are too busy at the momentC) Immediately give the ride and wait while the neighbor shopsD) Consent if the neighbor is a good friend
#5You are approached by someone asking for a contribution to a well-known charity. You:
A) Give if there is something received in return
B) Refuse to contributeC) Give whatever amount you canD) Pretend you are in a hurry
#6You are in a waiting room with another person. If you heard a scream in the adjoining room and the other person failed to respond, you would:
A) Help the screaming person whether the other person helps or notB) Help the screaming person only if the other person does tooC) Wait to see if the screaming continuesD) Leave the room
The Helping Orientation Questionnaire(Romer, 1986)
Measures helping orientations/motives
4 “Helping Orientations” identified▫Altruistic▫Receptive Giving▫Selfish▫Inner Sustaining
The 4 “Helping Orientations”
Seek Aid When Needed
Nurturance Low High
High Altruistic Receptive Giving
Low Inner Sustaining Selfish
#1You have come across a lost wallet with a large sum of money in it, as well as the identification of the owner. You:
A) Return the wallet without letting the owner know who you are. (Altruistic, 38%)
B) Return the wallet in hopes of receiving a reward. (Receptive Giving, 47%)
C) Keep the wallet and the money. (Selfish, 13%)
D) Leave the wallet where you found it. (Inner Sustaining, 2%)
#2A person in one of your classes is having trouble at home and with school work. You:
A) Help the person as much as you can. (Altruistic, 86%)
B) Tell the person not to bother you.(Selfish, 1%)
C) Leave the person alone to work out his or her own problems. (Inner Sustaining, 9%)
D) Agree to tutor the person for a reasonable fee. (Receptive Giving, 4%)
#3When it comes to cooperation when you would rather not, you usually:
A) Cooperate if it is helpful to others. (Altruistic, 61%)
B) Cooperate if it is helpful to yourself. (Receptive Giving, 20%)
C) Refuse to get involved. (Inner Sustaining, 3%)
D) Avoid situations where you might be asked to cooperate. (Selfish, 16%)
#4A neighbor calls you and asks for a ride to a store that is six blocks away. You:
A) Refuse, thinking you will never need a favor from him (or her). (Selfish, 1%)
B) Explain that you are too busy at the moment. (Inner Sustaining, 10%)
C) Immediately give the ride and wait while the neighbor shops. (Altruistic, 33%)
D) Consent if the neighbor is a good friend. (Receptive Giving, 56%)
#5You are approached by someone asking for a contribution to a well-known charity. You:
A) Give if there is something received in return. (Receptive Giving, 4%)
B) Refuse to contribute. (Selfish, 11%)
C) Give whatever amount you can. (Altruistic, 70%)
D) Pretend you are in a hurry. (Inner Sustaining, 15%)
#6You are in a waiting room with another person. If you heard a scream in the adjoining room and the other person failed to respond, you would:
A) Help the screaming person whether the other person helps or not. (Altruistic, 50%)
B) Help the screaming person only if the other person does too. (Receptive Giving, 10%)
C) Wait to see if the screaming continues. (Inner Sustaining, 15%)
D) Leave the room. (Selfish, 6%)
The 4 “Helping Orientations”
Seek Aid When Needed
Nurturance Low High
High Altruistic Receptive Giving
Low Inner Sustaining Selfish
Prosocial BehaviorActions that benefit other people or society as
a whole (Twenge et al., 2007)
Why Do People Help?Altruism (nothing expected in return)
▫Driven by empathy, compassion
Egoism (something expected)▫Driven by an obvious reward (a tax write-
off) or a less obvious one (reducing one’s own distress)
Social psychologists do not agree on whether genuine altruism exists
Helping Motives
Why Help? Social Norms
Reciprocity Norm: Maintain fairness in relationshipsSocial Justice Norm: Help when someone deserves it, typically b/c of unfortunate circumstances
Social Responsibility Norm: Help when others are in need & are dependent on us
Helping Behavior in Emergencies
The event that launched research…
•Kitty Genovese•Murdered 1964
Bystander Intervention
Smoky Room & Noticing (Latané & Darley, 1970)
▫Fill out questionnaires Alone or with 2 other “participants”
▫Smoke starts pouring into the room from a vent
Alone – 75% report in < 2 minutes With others– 10% report in 6 minutes
Bystander InterventionSeizures & Assuming (Darley & Latané, 1968)
▫Discuss problems of University life over an intercom with other people
▫Heard 1 person lapse into “epileptic seizure”
I-er-um-I think I-I need-er-if-if could-er-er somebody er-er-er-er-er-er give me a little-er-give me a little help here because-er-I-er-I'm-er-h-h-having a-a-a real problem-er right now and I-er-if somebody could help me out it would-it woulder-er-er s-s-sure be good ... because-er-there-er-ag cause I er-I-uh-I've got one of the-er-sei—er-er-things coming on and-and-and I could really use some help so if somebody would-er give me a little h-help-uh-er-er-er-er c-ould somebody-er er-help-er-uh-uh-uh [choking sounds] ... I'm gonna die-er-er ... help-er-er-seizure [chokes, then quiet].
No others – 85% sought help 1 others – 62% sought help 4 others – 31% sought help
Helping Behavior in Emergencies
What about today?!?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIvGIwLcIuw
Bystander Effect
Notice the Incident
No Help Offered or Given
Interpret as Emergency
Assume Responsibility
Attempt to HelpAssess
Knowledge & Skills
Who Needs the Help?
Characteristics of the one in need that increase the likelihood of getting help:
▫Being female ▫Similarity▫Seeming deserving▫Physical attractiveness
Batson, 1991
Individual Differences: Helping Behavior
Culture
Gender
Personality
Individual Differences: CultureCulture: the deeply learned confluence of language, beliefs, values, and behaviors that pervades every aspect of our lives.
“Measuring helping behavior across cultures” (Levine, 2003)
Main research questions?▫Are there cross-cultural differences in helping
behavior?
▫What cultural characteristics predict helping?
How did Levine answer these questions?▫Variety of helping behaviors▫36 cities in the U.S. & Worldwide
What was the nature of the relationship between population density and helping behavior?
▫ Negative correlation▫ ↑ PD = ↓ HB
What culture had the most helping behavior?▫ Hispanic/Latino cultures
“Measuring helping behavior across cultures” (Levine, 2003)
Small Groups!What cultural/economic characteristics usually predicted higher levels of helping?
▫ Lower economic productivity▫ Slower pace of life▫ Collectivist values related to social
responsibility
What are some of the challenges when conducting cross-cultural research?
“Measuring helping behavior across cultures” (Levine, 2003)
What does this all mean?▫Are New Yorkers just rude people?
▫Power of the situation! Helping tends to be less effected by the nature
of the people than it is by the characteristics of the environment
“Measuring helping behavior across cultures” (Levine, 2003)
Individual Differences: GenderChildren: few gender differences, girls score slightly higherAdults: it depends on the situation
When do men help more?▫In emergencies & potentially dangerous
situations▫In public & with strangers
Atkins et al., 2005; Eagly & Crowley, 1986
Individual Differences: GenderWhen do women help more?
▫Situation is assessed as less dangerous▫Prosocial act is more routine or long-term
(e.g., childcare) ▫Need is social support
Atkins et al., 2005; Eagly & Crowley, 1986
Complete this scale and bring score for Wednesday’s discussion
1 2 3 4 Strongly Disagree Disagree Agree Strongly Agree
1. On the whole, I am satisfied with myself.2. At times I think I am no good at all.3. I feel that I have a number of good qualities.4. I am able to do things as well as most other people.5. I feel I do not have much to be proud of.6. I certainly feel useless at times.7. I feel that I’m a person of worth, at least on an equal plane with others.8. I wish I could have more respect for myself. 9. All in all, I am inclined to feel that I am a failure.10. I take a positive attitude toward myself.
How to ScoreReverse score 2, 5, 6, 8, and 9
▫If you put 1, change it to 4▫2 = 3▫3 = 2▫4 = 1
Once you have reversed scored the above items, sum the 10 items and bring this number to class for Wednesday’s discussion
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