Psychology 2070A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 10: Social Exchange Theory, Normative Social Influence, Urban Studies
2 Apr 2018
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Why do people help: prosocial behaviour: any act performed with the goal of bene ting another person, altruism: the desire to help others, even if it involves a cost to the helper. Study: students listened to tape about psychology student in wheelchair who - asked to meet up with carol to share notes with her. High empathy condition- told to try to imagine how carol felt. Low empathy condition- told to be objective. High cost condition- told carol would come back to class next week in same class as them. Low cost condition - told carol would be studying at home and not coming to class. High empathy condition- people agreed to help regardless of the cost of not helping. Low empathy condition- more people agreed when they thought they would see her in class. Suggests when empathy was low - decision based on costs and bene ts to participant.
