Study questions chapter 12

Updated

What is the definition of altruism?

Understand and be able to give/recognize examples of these theories of helping: social exchange, norms, evolutionary, and empathy.

What rewards might people get from helping? Focus on external and internal rewards.

How is helping influenced by various emotional states (e.g., guilt, happiness, anger)?

What are the reciprocity norm and the social-responsibility norm? How do they affect altruism? Can you remember any other topics in social psychology where we saw these norms influencing behavior?

What is “kin selection”? How does it affect helping others? Who are we most likely to help, according to this theory? What is “group selection”? How does it affect helping?

What is the definition of empathy?

What is the “bystander effect”? Be able to describe research studies demonstrating this effect.

What is the 5-stage process people go through before deciding to help another? (This is in your notes, not the textbook.)

Describe research or influences at each of the five stages.

How does personality affect helping? (What kinds of people are more likely to be helpful?)

How does gender influence helping? Who helps more? Who receives help more? Who asks for help more?

How can we increase helping? What are some ways to increase an individual’s sense of responsibility for helping? (Focus on reducing ambiguity, modeling, and teaching helping.)

Will you as social psychology students now be more likely to help a person in need?