Notes – Altruism and Prosocial Behaviour
GLTs:
#3 = Distinguish between prosocial behaviour and altruism
#4 = Contrast two theories explaining altruism in humans.
Distinguishing between prosocial behaviour and altruism:
Prosocial behavior: Any behavior that benefits others or society. Examples could
include preventing aggression, refraining from driving after drinking).
Altruism: Helping and sharing behavior, a type of prosocial behavior; non-selfish
helping. For example, saving someone’s life by putting your own in danger.
An evolutionary definition of altruism: Every behavior that reduces the fitness of
the helper but increases the fitness of the person receiving help
Note: it is important to realize that these two concepts are very similar and in fact, definitions can
vary. Piliavin and Charng for example, have stated that psychologists have been able to agree on a
single definition of altruism.
Contrast two theories explaining altruism in humans
Two theories explaining altruism:
- Empathy-Altruism Theory
- Kin Selection Theory
Theory #1: Batson’s Empathy altruism hypothesis
This theory posits that humans are more likely to act altruistically if they can
empathise with the person they are intending to help. When we see someone in need
we can feel one of two emotions; either we feel personal distress (e.g. anxiety or fear)
or we feel empathic concern (e.g. compassion, tenderness).
If someone acts to reduce their personal distress, this is egoistic as they have
their own ends in mind. However, if someone acts because they feel a genuine
empathic concern this can be altruistic. One problem with this theory is that it is
difficult to objectively measure levels of empathy.
Empirical Study #1: Batson’s study on helping a fellow student
Participants were asked to help a girl named Carol who couldn’t attend lectures. She
had lost her legs. She needed help with lecture notes. Participants listened to an audio
recording of an interview with Carol.
Independent variable A: Empathy level
Condition 1: Participants were asked to focus on Carol’s feelings (High empathy
condition)
Condition 2: Participants were asked to focus on the details of the radio interview they
listend to. (Low empathy condition)
Independent variable B: High or low cost conditions
Condition 1: High cost. Carol would be in the same tutorial group and would join the
group the following week.
Condition 2: Low cost. Carol would not be in the class. It would not be as
embarrassing to deny her the lecture notes.
Results
-High empathy group were equally likely to help in either condition
-The low empathy group was more likely to help Carol in the high cost condition
Conclusions: There is a correlation between levels of empathy and the desire to help
Carol.
Theory #2: Kin selection theory
This theory basically states that we are more likely to help those that we have a closer
genetic resemblance to. For example, we are more likely to help our children than our
spouse. This is because by making sacrifices for those people with similar genetic
material as you, you are still helping your genes to be passed on.
Empirical Study #1: Madsen et al. UK and SA Students
Aim: to see how relationships to a benefactor would affect behaviour.
Methods: they asked students to make a list of biologically related family members.
They were then asked to do some physical activity that was quite painful, for example
a wall sit. They were told that they longer they performed the activity, the more
benefits would go to the family.
Results: The closer related the benefactor was, the longer they would continue with
the awkward behaviour.
Conclusions: Kinship (i.e. genetic similarity) is an important motivating factor for
behaviour.
Empirical Study #2: Simmons et al. Kinship and Kidney Donations
Aim: to see whether close relatives were more likely to be kidney donors.
Results: Recipients of kidney donations felt close to 63% of the potential donors, but
only close to 42% of the potential non-donors.
Conclusion: There is a correlation between emotional closeness and kidney donation.
Supporting Research on Animal Studies:
Wilkinson: Vampire bats are more likely to share blood with close relatives
Examples from the animal world: Honey bees, ground squirrels more likely to help
genetically related individuals in a group
Sherman: Squirrels are more likely to warn relatives than non-relatives for predators.
Contrast the two theories
Difference 1:
Kin selection biological focus, more reductionist (only focus on one factor)
Empathy-Altruism model focus on cognitive factors (thinking – feeling empathy, cost
benefit) Focus on two factors (interactionistic)
Difference 2:
Generalizability: Kin selection theory based on animal research, more supporting
research but difficult to generalize to humans. Empathy-altruism focuses on humans
but has less supporting research
Difference 3:
Dispositional factors-situational: Kin selection theory only dispositional (instinct) but
empathy-altruism model is situational
Difference 4
Applicability. Kin selection theory fails to explain altruism when helping non related
strangers. Empathy-altruism can explain altruism when helping non-related strangers
Difference 6
Kin selection more “egoistic”
Empathy-Altruism Can be less “selfish”
Conclusion
Restate aim. You may summarize the differences between the theories.