PS270 Chapter Notes - Chapter 9: Daniel Batson, Agreeableness, Murder Of Kitty Genovese
Document Summary
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. Three complementary theories offer some answers: social exchange, social norms, evolutionary psychology, social exchange. Several theories of helping agree that, in the long run, helping benefits the giver as well as the receiver. Assumes that human interactions are guided by a social economics . In doing so, we minimax strategy-minimize costs, maximize rewards. Social exchange theory does not content that we consciously monitor costs and rewards, only that such considerations predict our behaviour. 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. When businesses donate money to improve their corporate images or when someone offers another a ride hoping to receive appreciation or friendship, the reward is external.
