Psychology 2720A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter Chapter 10: Social Exchange Theory, Kin Selection, Norm (Social)

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2720A/B
• Professor: Mike Morrison

Document Summary

Prosocial behaviour: any act performed with the goal of benefiting another person. Aultruism: the desire to help others, even if it involves a cost to the helper. Example saving someone who is drowning: you risk your own life by saving them and you have no self-benefit by helping them. Kin selection only applies to life-threatening circumstances. We are more likely to help a non-relative in minor situations: people are more likely to search for family members when exiting a burning building than friends. Participants were asked to list their immediate and extended family members and report how close they were to each. Participants were later asked which family member they would help in a specific situation: results: participants were more likely to help family members whom they stated they were closest with. How similar in genetics people were did not determine whether they would help the family member.