PSY 240 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Wesley Autrey, Prosocial Behavior, Subway Hero

• School: Stony Brook University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 240
• Professor: Sirena Ibrahim

Document Summary

Saved student from being struck by a subway after having a seizure and falling onto the tracks. Pro-social behavior - behavior that has positive social consequences. Helping - act that benefits a particular person directly. Altruism - helping without expecting to receive any benefit in return. Kin selection theory - preference toward helping our genetic relatives. Reciprocal altruism - helping someone increases likelihood they will help you in return. Arousal: cost-reward model - more likely to help when the potential rewards of helping seem high relative to the potential costs. Cialdini et al (1987) helping others reduces our own negative emotions. What you help someone with doesn"t have to be related to the reason you"re feeling down. Empathic joy hypothesis feels good to help others have to know you"re having a positive impact on others to feel the good. Competitive altruism approach help others in order to boost their own status and reputation, especially if cost is high.