PSY-B - Psychology PSY-B 370 Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Prosocial Behavior, Twin, Kin Selection
17 Nov 2016
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Prosocial behavior: is an action by an individual that is intended to benefit another individual or set of individuals. Is directed toward the benefit of someone else. However theorists have often posited self-serving or egoistic motivations for helping. Altruism is the desire to help a(cid:374)other purel(cid:455) for the other perso(cid:374)"s (cid:271)e(cid:374)efit. Kin selection: the idea that behaviors that help a genetic relative are favored by natural selection. Helping relatives before strangers better ensure the survival of our own genes. We help others because we believe that doing so will increase the likelihood that they will help us in the future some believe it may be genetically based. People are genetically predisposed to learning social norms. Biological basis for helping twin studies show higher correlation between identical than fraternal twins in helping tendencies. Other non-human animals help infants as young as 3 months show a preference for those who are helpful rather than hurtful.
