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Prosocial Behaviour: Behaviour performed with the goal of benefiting…
Prosocial Behaviour: Behaviour performed with the goal of benefiting another person
Altruism: The desire to help another person even if it involves a cost to the helper
Evolution
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Reciprocity norm: The expectation that helping others will increase the likelihood that they will help us in the future
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Group selection: Groups in the past that exuded altruistic traits were more likely to survive than groups that did not, resulting in the passing down of altruism
Social Exchange Theory: There is no such thing as true altruism. People help to maximise the ratio of their social rewards to social costs. In other words, people only help when the benefits of helping outweigh the costs
Rewards can be tangible (e.g. financial benefit) or intangible (helping someone in distress to decrease your own distress)
Empathy and altruism
Empathy: The ability to put yourself in the shoes of another person and to experience events and emotions the way that person experiences them
Empathy-altruism hypothesis: When we feel empathy for another person, we will attempt to help that person for purely altruistic reasons, regardless of what we have to gain. When you don't feel empathy, social exchange theory comes into play and you only help when you have something to gain
Other factors
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Males and females help but in different ways. Males help in a more heroic fashion while females help in terms of support (gender roles)
In-group vs out-group: People help in-group members because of empathy, while people help out-group members because of social exchange
Religious people are more likely to help those who share the same religious beliefs. In fact, religion can enhance hostility towards those outside of the religious groups.
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Situational factors
Rural vs Urban
Urban overload hypothesis: In big cities, people are overwhelmed by stimuli. As a result, they are more closed in, keep to themselves more, and are less likely to be attentive to anyone who needs help
Residential mobility: The longer you've lived in an area, the more likely you are to engage in prosocial behaviour. You have a greater attachment to the community, more interdependence with your neighbours, and a greater concern for your reputation. You also have a greater stake in the community.
The bystander effect: The more number of bystanders, the less likely anyone would help
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