PSY 210 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Social Exchange Theory, Murder Of Kitty Genovese, Empathic Concern
27 Aug 2019
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An altruistic person is concerned and helpful even when no benefits are offered or expected in return: altruism a motive to increase another"s welfare without conscious regard for one"s self interests. Several theories of helping agree that, in the long run, helping behavior benefits the giver as well as the receiver. Human interactions are guided by social economics . We exchange not only material goods and money but also social goods - love, services, information, status. In doing so, we aim to minimize costs and maximize rewards. Social exchange theory does not contend that we consciously monitor costs and rewards, only that such considerations predict our behavior. The giver expects later to be the getter. When we value another"s welfare, perceive the person as in need, and take the person"s perspective, we feel empathic concern. A specific torture technique become less acceptable when people experience even a small dose of it.
