PSYC 170 Chapter Notes - Chapter 11: Absolute Difference, Counterpoint, Levite
Document Summary
Prosocial behavior any act performed with the goal of benefiting another person: can be purely out of self-interest or motivated by altruism. Altruism the desire to help another person even if it involves a cost to the helper. People reported that they would be more likely to help genetic relatives than nonrelatives in life and death situations, but this correlation did not exist in non-life threatening situations. Both males and females and american and japanese participants followed this rule. Note only reporting what they thought they would do, But anecdotal evidence is consistent with these results. Controversial and not supported by all biologists: in sum, evolutionary psychologists believes that people help others because of factors that have become ingrained in our genes. Prosocial acts are doubly rewarding in that they help both the giver and recipient of the aid. Costs of helping: physical danger, result in pain/embarrassment, takes too much time.
