Altruism and Aggression
Lily Scott
4 min read
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Study Guide Overview
This study guide covers altruism and its influencing factors (need, similarity, gender, observation, time, location, preoccupation, guilt, mood). It also explains the bystander effect, diffusion of responsibility, social exchange theory, reciprocity norm, and social responsibility norm.
#AP Psychology: Altruism & Aggression - The Night Before 🌃
Hey! Let's get you feeling super confident for the AP Psych exam tomorrow. We're going to break down altruism and aggression, making sure everything sticks. Think of this as your super-powered review session!
# Altruism: The Good Stuff 🤗
Altruism is all about unselfish acts aimed at helping others. It's a key concept, so let's dive in.
#Factors Increasing Altruistic Behavior
- Need & Deserving: We're more likely to help if someone seems like they really need it or deserve it.
- Similarity: If they're like us, we feel more inclined to help.
- Gender: We tend to be more altruistic towards women.
- Observation: Seeing others help makes us want to help too.
- Time: If we're not in a rush, we're more likely to lend a hand.
- Location: Small towns and rural areas foster more altruism.
- Preoccupation: When we're not distracted, we're more likely to notice and help.
- Guilt: Feeling guilty can make us more altruistic.
- Mood: A good mood often leads to more helpful behavior.
Remember these factors! They show up in both multiple-choice and free-response questions.
#The Bystander Effect & Diffusion of Responsibility
- Bystander Effect: The more people around, the less likely any one person is to help.
- Diffusion of Responsibility: When responsibility is shared, individuals feel less personally accountable.
Think of it like this: If you see someone drop their books in a crowded hallway, you might think, "Someone else will help." But if you're the only one there, you're much more likely to step in.
#Social Exchange Theory, Reciprocity Norm, and Social Responsibility Norm
- Social Exchange Theory: We weigh the costs and benefits of helping.
- Reciprocity Norm: We help those who have helped us. 🤝
- Social Responsibility Norm: We should help those in need, especially women and children.
Religious folks often show more altruism due to the social responsibility norm. They feel more connected to and responsible for their community.
Practice Question
What is the bystander effect?
A) The tendency for people to help others in need. B) The tendency for people to not help when others are present. C) The tendency for people to feel more responsible in a group. D) The tendency for people to ignore others.
What is the social responsibility norm?
A) The norm that we should help those who have helped us. B) The norm that we should help those in need, especially women and children. C) The norm that we should help those who are similar to us. D) The norm that we should help those who are in a good mood.
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