PSYC 215 Chapter 14: Chapter 14 notes

• School: McGill University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 215
• Professor: John Lydon

Document Summary

Altruism: unselfish behaviour that benefits others without regard to consequences for the self. Proposed altruistic action involves several motives 2 of them selfish, 1 unselfish: social rewards motive. Act altruistically with an eye toward how it will look to others. Earns people the esteem and respect of others which are 2 very desirable social rewards. Social rewards: benefits like praise, positive attention, tangible rewards, honors and gratitude that may be gained from helping others: personal distress motive. People motived to help others in need in order to reduce their own distress. We respond to others distress with our own distress. Study done on 1 day old infants hear recording other self/others crying. Baby cried the most in response to cries of another baby. When we watch someone in pain, we experience our own feelings of pain/distress. Most direct way to alleviate own personal distress is to reduce the distress of other person helping behaviour accomplishes this.