Understand human altruism and bystander behaviour: Define the characteristics of human altruism and bystander behaviour and analyze explanations
Understand human altruism and bystander behaviour:
Human altruism refers to a selfless behavior where individuals act in ways that benefit others without expecting anything in return. Bystander behavior, on the other hand, refers to the tendency of individuals to not intervene in a situation where they observe someone in need of help. These two concepts are closely related and have been extensively studied in social psychology.
Characteristics of Human Altruism:
Human altruism is characterized by several key features:
Selflessness: Altruistic individuals prioritize the well-being of others over their own self-interest. They are willing to sacrifice their own resources, time, and energy to help others.
Empathy: Altruistic individuals possess a heightened sense of empathy, which allows them to understand and share the feelings of others. This emotional connection motivates them to act in a compassionate manner.
Voluntary Action: Altruistic behavior is voluntary and not coerced. Individuals engage in acts of altruism willingly, without any external pressure or expectation of reward.
Consistency: Altruism is not limited to isolated incidents, but rather a consistent pattern of behavior. Altruistic individuals consistently display concern for the welfare of others, regardless of the situation.
Explanations for Unexpected Behavior:
There are several explanations for why people might behave differently from what is expected in certain situations. One prominent explanation is the bystander effect, which suggests that the presence of other people can inhibit individuals from intervening in an emergency situation. This phenomenon occurs due to diffusion of responsibility, where individuals feel less personally responsible for helping when others are present. As a result, people may hesitate to take action, assuming that someone else will step in.
Another explanation is the pluralistic ignorance, which occurs when individuals rely on the behavior of others to determine the appropriate course of action. In cases where individuals are uncertain about what to do, they look to others for guidance. If everyone appears calm and unresponsive, individuals may interpret the situation as non-emergency, leading to inaction.
For example, the infamous case of the murder of Kitty Genovese in 1964 illustrates the bystander effect. Despite her cries for help, none of the neighbors intervened, assuming that someone else would take action. This tragic event brought attention to the psychological factors that can influence bystander behavior.
In a study conducted by Latané and Darley in 1968, they found that the number of bystanders present during an emergency negatively influenced the likelihood of intervention. Participants were less likely to help when they believed that other bystanders were present. This study further supports the bystander effect and highlights the impact of social influence on individual behavior.
Therefore, understanding the characteristics of human altruism and the factors that influence bystander behavior is crucial in comprehending why people might behave differently than expected in certain situations. These concepts shed light on the complexity of social psychology and provide insights into our understanding of pro-social and anti-social behaviors.
Define the characteristics of human altruism and bystander behaviour:
Define the characteristics of human altruism and bystander behaviour:
Human altruism: 🤝 The selfless concern for the well-being of others, often involving acts of kindness or helping behaviors without expecting anything in return.
Altruism is a fundamental aspect of human nature that involves individuals voluntarily benefiting others, often at a cost to themselves. It is characterized by a genuine concern for the welfare and happiness of others, and it can manifest in various ways. Some common characteristics of human altruism include:
Empathy: The ability to understand and share the feelings of others plays a crucial role in altruistic behavior. When individuals empathize with someone in need, they are more likely to engage in helping behaviors.
Example: A person witnessing someone struggling to carry heavy bags may feel empathy towards them and offer assistance.
Prosocial behavior: Altruism often involves engaging in prosocial behaviors, which are actions intended to benefit others or society as a whole. These behaviors can range from simple acts of kindness to more significant contributions.
Example: Donating money or volunteering time to a charitable organization to support a cause or help those in need.
Reciprocity: While altruism may not be driven by the expectation of receiving anything in return, there is a common belief that acts of kindness can create a positive cycle of reciprocity. People may engage in altruistic acts, hoping that others will reciprocate the kindness in the future.
Example: Helping a neighbor with household chores, with the understanding that they may offer assistance in return when needed.
Bystander behaviour: 🙅♂️ The phenomenon where individuals are less likely to help someone in need when others are present, often due to diffusion of responsibility or the belief that someone else will intervene.
Bystander behavior refers to the tendency of individuals to be less likely to help someone in need when others are present. This phenomenon can be influenced by various factors and has been studied extensively. Some key characteristics of bystander behavior include:
Diffusion of responsibility: When multiple people are present in an emergency situation, individuals may feel a reduced sense of personal responsibility to help. They may assume that someone else will take action, leading to a diffusion of responsibility among the group.
Example: In a crowded street, multiple witnesses may assume that someone else will call for help when witnessing an accident, resulting in delayed or no help being provided.
Pluralistic ignorance: Bystanders often look to others for cues about the appropriate course of action. If nobody else is reacting or helping, individuals may interpret this as a signal that the situation is not an emergency or that help is not required.
Example: In a crowded subway, if everyone remains passive and avoids intervening during a conflict, bystanders may assume the situation is not serious and refrain from offering assistance.
Evaluation apprehension: Bystanders may hesitate to help due to the fear of potential social evaluation or embarrassment. They may be concerned about how their actions will be perceived by others and the potential consequences of intervening.
Example: A person witnessing an altercation may be reluctant to step in and help, fearing that they might put themselves in harm's way or draw unwanted attention.
Understanding the characteristics of human altruism and bystander behavior provides valuable insights into the motivations and inhibitions that influence helping behaviors in various social contexts. Real-life stories and empirical research further illustrate the complexities and nuances of these phenomena, shedding light on the human capacity for kindness and the impact of social dynamics on our willingness to help others.
Analyze explanations of how people behave completely differently from the expected:
Analyze explanations of how people behave completely differently from the expected
Diffusion of responsibility:
When individuals believe that someone else will take responsibility for helping, leading to a decreased likelihood of intervention.
One classic study that demonstrates diffusion of responsibility is the case of Kitty Genovese, a young woman who was brutally attacked and murdered in New York City in 1964. Despite more than 30 witnesses hearing her cries for help over a span of 30 minutes, no one intervened or called the police. This event became a prominent example of bystander apathy and diffusion of responsibility.
Example: In 2015, a video of a woman being attacked on a subway platform in Philadelphia went viral. The video showed that there were multiple bystanders present, yet no one stepped in to help the woman. It was later revealed that some of the bystanders assumed that others would intervene, leading to complacency and inaction.
Pluralistic ignorance:
When individuals look to others for cues on how to behave in a situation, and if no one else is taking action, they may assume that the situation is not an emergency or that help is not needed.
A famous study conducted by Bibb Latané and John Darley in 1968, known as the "smoke-filled room" experiment, illustrates pluralistic ignorance. Participants were placed in a room where smoke started to fill the space. When participants were alone, they usually reported the smoke and took appropriate action. However, when placed in a room with confederates who were instructed to ignore the smoke, participants often hesitated to report the emergency, assuming the inaction of others indicated that it was not a real emergency.
Example: Imagine a crowded street where a person suddenly collapses. Onlookers may hesitate to intervene if they see others around them not reacting. They may interpret the lack of action as an indication that the situation is not serious, leading to a delay in seeking help.
Social influence:
The impact of others' behavior and opinions on an individual's own behavior, which can lead to conformity or non-intervention in a situation.
The famous Asch conformity experiments conducted in the 1950s demonstrated the power of social influence. Participants were shown a series of lines and were asked to identify which line matched a reference line in length. Confederates, who were actually part of the experiment, purposely gave incorrect answers. In many cases, participants conformed to the group's incorrect responses, even when they could clearly see that the correct answer was different.
Example: In a crowded stadium, if a few people start booing a player or an event, others may join in even if they individually have a different opinion. This social influence can discourage intervention when it comes to helping or intervening in a situation, as people may conform to the lack of action by others, assuming it is the appropriate response.
Example of social influence:
Person A: "I don't think we should help that person on the street. No one else seems to be doing anything."
Person B: "Yeah, you're right. If it was really an emergency, someone would have already done something."
Person C (who initially felt compelled to help): *remains silent and does not intervene*
It is important to acknowledge that these explanations are not exhaustive and that human altruism and bystander behavior are influenced by a multitude of factors. Understanding these factors can help shed light on why people behave differently from what is expected in certain situations.
