influences on prosocial behavior

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