Altruism

1. Altruism • A motive to increase another’s welfare without conscious regard for one’s self-interests LO1

2. Social exchange • The theory that human interactions are transactions that aim to maximize one’s rewards and minimize one’s costs • Rewards • Internal or external • Increasing self-worth, reclaiming a positive public image • Reducing distress, guilt, • Egoism: The idea that self-interest motives all behaviour LO1

3. Social exchange • Feel bad, do good • When one’s attention is on others, altruism is rewarding • Feel good, do good • Happy people are helpful people LO1

4. Social exchange Data from Isen et al. (1976) LO1

5. Social norms • The reciprocity norm • An expectation that people will help, not hurt, those who have helped them • Helps define the “social capital” • The social-responsibility norm • An expectation that people will help those dependent on them • Responses are closely tied to attributions • Gender and receiving help Whatley et al. (1999) LO1

6. Evolutionary psychology • Kin protection • The idea that evolution has selected altruism toward one’s close relatives to enhance the survival of mutually shared genes • Reciprocity • Helping another because of the expectation that the favour will be returned • Stronger in small, isolated groups • Group selection LO1

7. Comparing and evaluating theories of altruism LO1

8. Comparing and evaluating theories of altruism • Genuine altruism • Empathy: The vicarious experience of another’s feeling; putting oneself in another’s shoes LO1