1. Altruism, Helping Behavior, and Conflict
Social Relations
Altruism, Helping Behavior, and Conflict

2. Why Do We Help?
Social exchange theory: the theory that our social behavior is an exchange process, the aim of which is to maximize benefits and minimize costs
If the rewards you anticipate from helping exceed the costs, you will help
For many people, helping others is intrinsically motivating
Reciprocity norm: an expectation that people will help, not hurt, those who have helped them
Social responsibility norm: an expectation that people will help those dependent upon them (those who need our help!)
Altruistic Behavior (altruism): helping behavior that is not liked to personal gain
Unselfish regard for the welfare of others
Also observed in other primates

3. Bystander Intervention
When do we help others? When don’t we?
Bystander Effect: the tendency for any given bystander to be less likely to give aid if other bystanders are present
Diffusion of responsibility

4. Experiment
University students participated in a discussion over an intercom
Each student was in a separate cubicle, and only the person whose microphone was switched on could be heard
One of the other “students” was really a confederate
When his turn came he made sounds like he was having a seizure
Response of the other students:
Those who believed only they could hear the victim, usually went to his aid
Those who thought others hear the victim were more likely to ignore the victim
Experiment presented in your text:
70% offered help to the unseen victim when they were alone
When they were with someone else, only 7% offered help

5. The Best Odds of Us Helping Someone Occur When…
Studied by John Darley and Bibb Latané
The person appears to need and deserve help
The person is in some way similar to us
We have just observed someone else being helpful
We are not in a hurry
We are in a small town or rural area
We are feeling guilty
We are focused on others and not preoccupied
We are in a good mood
One of the most consistent findings in all of psychology!

6. Conflict
Definition: a perceived incompatibility of actions, goals, or ideas
Social traps: a situation in which the conflicting parties, by each rationally pursuing their self-interest, become caught in mutually destructive behavior
How do we avoid this?
Regulations
Communication
Awareness of our responsibility

7. Enemy Perceptions
Mirror-image perceptions: mutual views often held by conflicting people
Each side sees itself as ethical and peaceful and views the other side as evil and aggressive
We see them as they see us!
Often becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy

8. Contact Does putting people in conflict in contact help? Sometimes
Needs to be noncompetitive in nature
Parties need to be of equal status

9. Cooperation Muzafer Sherif Boy scout study
Superordinate goals: shared goals that override differences and that can only be achieved through cooperation