PSY220H1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 8: Kin Selection, Small Favor, Prosocial Behavior
Document Summary
Altruism: a motive to increase another"s welfare without conscious regard for one"s self-interests. Social exchange theory : the theory that human interactions are transactions that aim. To maximize one"s rewards and minimize one"s costs. Rewards that motivate helping may be external or internal. studies showed that youth who engaged in community service projects, school-based service learning, or tutoring children develop social skills and positive social values. Such youth are at markedly less risk for delinquency, pregnancy, and school dropout and are more likely to become engaged citizens. Volunteering likewise benefits morale and health, especially when self-initiated rather than pressured. We credit people for their good deeds, only when we can"t explain them. We attribute their behavior to their inner dispositions only when we lack external explanations. Egoism (a motive to increase your own welfare; the opposite of altruism) the idea that self-interest motivates all behavior has fallen into disrepute.
