Altruism and pro-social behavior

1. Altruism and pro-social behavior Dr Alex Hunt Clinical psychologist

2. 1. selflessness: an attitude or way of behaving marked by unselfish concern for the welfare of others2. belief in acting for others' good: the belief that acting for the benefit of others is right and good[Mid-19th century. < French altruisme< Italian altrui "that which belongs to other people" < Latin alter "other"]

3. Pro-Social Behaviors • Schroeder 1995 - Helping, comforting, co-operating, sharing, re-assuring, defending, charity concern • Acts that unintentionally help others not altruism, those that intend to help, but don’t count as altruism • Altruism -self sacrificial costs absence of obvious external rewards (Bateson,1980)

4. Does Altruism exist? • Does true altruism exist?- theory of universal egoism people are fundamentally selfish • McDougal-sympathetic instincts are responsible for altruism • Socio-biologists argue that altruism is an act of selfishness in disguise • All acts motivated by self benefit, however subtle?

5. Kitty Genovese • Murder of Kitty Genovese open the floodgates to research into altruism and bystander intervention… Video

6. Bystander apathy • Diffucion of reponsibility: • More people around the assumption is someone else will do something • Situational cues

7. Decision model of bystander intervention • Latene and Darley (1970) • Steps or decisions to helping others: • Notice that something is wrong • Define it as a situation requiring help • Decide whether to take personal responsibility • Decide what help to give • Implement the decision to help

8. Factors affecting bystander intervention • Pluralistic Ignorance • Accepting personal responsibility or diffusing responsibility • Study –epileptic man • Explanation for bystander apathy • Role of Competence • In the presence of people you believe to be more competent there is an increase of diffusion of responsibility, • Eg lifeguard

9. Arousal cost reward model (ACR)(also social exchange theory) • Economic view of human behaviour • Pilliavin (1969) • Two conceptually distinct but functionally interdependent influences on helping: • Arousal – in response to the need or distress of others; emotional response, motivated to reduce it • Cost reward – cognitive component where bystanders assess the anticipated costs and rewards associated with both helping or not helping

10. ACR • Model states that people who feel emotional arousal in relation to a persons situation are motivated to reduce the arousal, incurring as few costs as possible • Emotion provides the motivation to do something • Cognitive component determines most efficient or effective response

11. Cost reward analysis • Costs of helping • Lost time, effort, physical danger, embarrassment, disruption of activity, psychological aversion • Rewards of helping • Fame, gratitude of victim and relatives, pleasure and self satisfaction, avoidance of guilt, money! • Costs of not helping • Guilt and blame from others, internal shame and guilt, cognitive emotional consequences of leaving someone suffering

12. Cost analysis

13. Cost reward analysis • Costs for not helping affect intervention when the costs for helping are low • High cost for helping vs. high cost for not helping dilemma – cognitive reinterpretation • Redefine the situation as one not requiring help • Diffusing responsibility • Denigrating, blaming the victim

14. Victim influences • More likely to help those similar to ourselves • Racisits who would be exposed as such don’t discriminate, but where their decision not to help can be blamed on another factor they then discriminate • Attributions important: is the person responsible for their predicament? (Drunk vs blind person)

15. Empathic altruism • Some altruism not egotistically motivated • Some altruism is empathetic with the genuine motivation to help others • More empathic emotion: sympathy, concern, tenderness, more the altruistic desire to relieve victims suffering • self orientated emotions: discomfort, anxiety, upset  egotistic desire to reduce own distress

16. Paradox of altruism • Some behaviour which is altruistic exposes self to greater risk: goes against survival of the fittest – • rabbit thumping foot to warn of predator • For the greater good; benefit the group, particularly kin • Increase likelihood of others helping you in furture