PSY 380Introduction to Social Psychology

Thursday April 6, 2000

Today's Topic: Pro-Social Behavior

Announcements

Exam 3 held Thursday April 13

Exam 3 Review Session held Tuesday April 11 during lecture

Prosocial Behavior: Helping Others

prosocial behavior: any act performed with the goal of benefiting another person

altruism: the desire to help another person even if it involves cost to the helper, and without expecting any type of personal gain

Why do we help?

evolutionary explanation

reciprocity norm

altruistic personality

social learning

Who do we help?

Gender differences in helping: Who helps more?

men:

women:

Why?

Big Cities vs Small Towns

Zimbardo (1969)

left disabled cars in two cities

NYC

Palo Alto, CA

Korte & Kerr (1979)

Deliberately overpaid clerks for small purchases.

small town:

big cities:

Amato (1983) Studied several types of helping in small towns (less than 1000) and large cities (over 3 million in Sydney).

1. help Amato who falls to ground with bloody bandage on leg

2. donate to MS society

3. one stranger gives other bad directions such that subject can hear & correct

Why? In large cities

When do People Help?

Decision Model of Helping

1. Noticing the event

2. Interpret event as emergency

pluralistic ignorance:

3. Assume responsibility

diffusion of responsibility:

4. Knowing how to help

5. Deciding to help