Distinguish between

Altruism and Pro-Social

behaviour

Social Responsibility

Social Responsibility

Before we get stuck into this new topic, ask Before we get stuck into this new topic, ask the person/people next to you:the person/people next to you:

What do you think is meant by ‘social What do you think is meant by ‘social responsibility?’responsibility?’

Altruism

Is Wesley Autrey a hero?Is Wesley Autrey a hero?

Would you have reacted in the same way?Would you have reacted in the same way?

Altruism

Is Wesley Autrey a hero?Is Wesley Autrey a hero?

Would you have reacted in the same way?Would you have reacted in the same way?

Now look at the handout and ask a partner the Now look at the handout and ask a partner the questions.questions.

What is pro-social behaviour?

What is pro-social behaviour?

Helping othersHelping others

Donating time, effort or moneyDonating time, effort or money

Helping in an emergency situationHelping in an emergency situation

Helping in an non-emergency situationHelping in an non-emergency situation

Cooperating rather than competingCooperating rather than competing

What is pro-social behaviour?

Can you think of some examples of pro-social Can you think of some examples of pro-social behaviour from your own life?behaviour from your own life?

What is altruism?

What is altruism?

Benefiting another at one’s own expenseBenefiting another at one’s own expense

Risking or losing one’s life to save another’sRisking or losing one’s life to save another’s

Selfless helpingSelfless helping

Altruism

Can you think of any examples of altruism Can you think of any examples of altruism from your own life?from your own life?

So what’s the So what’s the difference between difference between altruism and pro-social altruism and pro-social behaviour?behaviour?

PRO-SOCIAL BEHAVIORPRO-SOCIAL BEHAVIOR: :

Action intended to benefit another Action intended to benefit another

Positive, constructive, helpful behavior. The Positive, constructive, helpful behavior. The opposite of antisocial behavior.opposite of antisocial behavior.

Behaviors that are carried out with the goal of Behaviors that are carried out with the goal of helping other people helping other people

ALTRUISMALTRUISM::

Action intended solely to benefit another and Action intended solely to benefit another and thus not to gain external or internal reward thus not to gain external or internal reward

Unselfish regard for the welfare of others Unselfish regard for the welfare of others

Pro-social behaviors a person carries out Pro-social behaviors a person carries out without considering his or her own safety or without considering his or her own safety or interests. interests.

Theoretical perspectives on helping behavior:

Prosocial behavior:any act intended to help others regardless of the helpers motives

Altruism:acts intended to

help others with no expectation of personal gain

Evolutionary Perspective

Socio-Cultural Perspective

Social-Cognitive Perspective

Evolutionary Perspective:

Prosocial behavior:

Altruism

Evolutionary Perspective

• animal examples• tendency to help others:

– survival value• mutual/reciprocal altruism• self preservation versus altruism:

– predisposed to both

Socio-Cultural Perspective:

Prosocial behavior:

Altruism

Socio-cultural Perspective Social Norms:

• norm of social responsibility:– help those who depend on us

• norm of reciprocity:– help those who help us

• norm of social justice:– rules about fairness and the just distribution of resources– equity principle:

• inequity = pressure to redistribute

Socio-Cultural Research:

Prosocial behavior:

Altruism

Socio-cultural Perspective Reciprocity Norm Study:

Social-Cognitive Perspective:

Prosocial behavior:

Altruism

Social-cognitive Perspective

Cognitive/Decision-Making Steps:

Need Perception

What Help and How

Personal Responsibility

Costs/Benefits Assessment

Need Perception:

Prosocial behavior:

Altruism

Social-cognitive Perspective

Need Perception

• interpretation is vital:

– ambiguous versus unambiguous cues

• cues for interpretation as emergency:

– sudden/unexpected

– clear threat of harm to victim

– harm increases without intervention

– victim is helpless

– effective intervention is possible