Psychology 2070A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 10: Reduced Affect Display, Social Exchange Theory, Prosocial Behavior
10 Apr 2014
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Prosocial behavior: any act performed with the goal of benefiting another person. Altruism: the desire to help others, even if it involves a cost to the helper. Kin selection: the idea that behavior that helps a genetic relative is favored by natural selection. Thus, natural selection should favor altruistic acts directed toward genetic relatives. Researchers suggest that evolution may actually have created the tendency to help those who are close to us, rather than the tendency to help those who are related to us (additional research will be required) Norm of reciprocity: the expectation that helping others will increase the likelihood that they will help us in the future. Because of its survival value, such a norm of reciprocity may have become genetically based. Even infants reciprocate good deeds, and they can pick up on whether someone intends to help them and reciprocate accordingly. People are genetically programmed to learn social norms, and one of these norms is altruism.
