PS270 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Egotism, Pluralistic Ignorance
Document Summary
Altruism: a motive to increase another"s" welfare without conscious regard for one"s self interests. Why do we help: social exchange, social norms, evolutionary. Social exchange: the theory that human interactions are transactions that aim to maximize one"s rewards and minimize one"s costs, rewards. Increasing self-worth, reclaiming a positive public image: reducing distress or guilt (due to privilege, egoism: the idea that self-interest motivates all behaviour. Social exchange: feel bad, do good, feel good, do good, when one"s attention is on others, altruism is rewarding, happy people are helpful people. Ted talk (video: giving money to charity makes you happier, giving gifts to people on team makes you perform better, giving money/gifts to self makes happiness/performance the same. Social norms: the reciprocity norm, an expectation that people will help, mot hurt, those who have helped them, helps define social capital (level of trust, connection that is felt in a community, key to functioning societies.
