Helping Behavior

Module 4.3e

LEARNING TARGETS:

• Define altruism, and explain when people are most and least likely to help.
• Explain how social exchange theory and social norms explain helping behavior.

Prosocial Behavior

• Prosocial behavior - any behavior that helps another person, whether the underlying motive is self-serving or selfless
• Sometimes we help people out of guilt or in order to gain something, such as recognition, rewards, increased self-esteem, or having the favor returned
• Altruism - Unselfish regard for the welfare of others
• Hero on the Potomac (start at 1:05)

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So, Why Don’t People Always �Help Others in Need?

• Would you have stopped and helped this man?
• Watch Hit & Run Video – 2 min.

Bystander Effect

• The tendency for any given bystander to be less likely to give aid if other bystanders are present
• Famous case of Kitty Genovese (7 min):
• 38 people heard her cry for help but didn’t help. She was raped and stabbed to death.

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Why Don’t People Always Help Others in Need?

• Darley & Latane studies:
• Several scenarios designed to measure the help response
• Found that if you think you’re the only one that can hear or help, you are more likely to do so (Help)
• Diffusion of Responsibility - If there are others around, you think “Someone else will do it” (Don’t Help)
• Pluralistic Ignorance - The longer things go with nobody helping it becomes more likely each person will begin to wonder if any help is really needed. (Don’t Help)
• Our desire to behave in a socially acceptable way (normative social influence) and to appear correct (informational social influence)
• Vague or ambiguous situations
• When the personal costs for helping outweigh the benefits

��By staging emergency events in field studies, researchers have found that an individual is less likely to offer assistance or call for help when other people are present than when he or she is the only witness. This is known as the bystander effect. ��In this field study, an individual steals bicycles, picks a wallet from a purse, and picks a wallet from a pocket, all in full view of several people. Bystanders intervene in only one event. Here are other examples done out in public to demonstrate bystander effect (start at :34)��

Psychology of Bystanders

Diffusion of Responsibility

Helping Behavior�Decision Scheme�Notice – Interpret – Assume Responsibility

• ABC Primetime looks into helping behavior Video

We’ll help if…

• We’ve recently observed helpfulness
• We’re not hurried
• We think the victim needs & deserves help
• The victim is similar to us or a woman
• We are feeling guilty
• We are in a small town or rural area
• We’re focused on others & not preoccupied
• We are in a good mood
• We don’t perceive danger
• We know the victim
• We know how to help

Helping Norms

• Self-Interest underlies all human interactions – our constant goal is to maximize rewards & minimize costs.
• Social Exchange Theory – If rewards exceed the costs, you will help.
• Example: Donating Blood – weigh costs (time, discomfort, anxiety) vs. benefits (good feelings, social approval, less guilt)
• Reciprocity Norm – Expectation that we should return help to those who help us.
• Example: I’ll help you with your homework because you helped me with mine.
• Gift Giving Gone Wrong? An example from Big Bang Theory (2 min)
• Social-Responsibility Norm – we should help people who need/deserve our help – children, the poor – even if the costs outweigh the benefits