Ch. 12: Helping

Pt 2: Apr. 21, 2014

Helping (or not helping)• What determines why/when people help?– 1) Evolutionary factors:• A) Role of ‘kin selection’

• What research supports this?

• B) Reciprocity

• Evolutionary explanations (cont.)– C) Empathy• Cognitive component –• Emotional component –

• Toddler empathy research – how does this research indicate a natural instinct to help?

• monkeys & empathy…

• 2) Cost-reward model– Social exchange – focus on rewards

• What are possible rewards?

– Is the helping altruistic or egoistic?

• 3) Situational factors influence helping –– Effect of crowds: The Bystander Effect• Kitty Genovese murder in 1964 in NYC

– Details of the incident?

• How did bystanders react?

• Darley & Latane’s follow-up experiments:• Confederate fakes a seizure…either alone, with 1 other

participant, or 4 other participants

What is ‘Diffusion of Responsibility’?

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12

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Seconds from beginning of

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% h

elp

ing Alone

S + 1otherS + 4others

• Obstacles to helping –– Noticing

– Interpreting –• What is pluralistic ignorance?• Shotland’s research on male-female assaults –

– Responsibility

– Deciding how to help