Discuss research into cultural differences in pro-social behaviour

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Doreender Osei

11/04/04

Discuss research into cultural differences in pro-social behaviour

Altruism is a form of pro-social behaviour in which a person will voluntarily help another person at some cost to himself or herself. Bystander intervention is also a form of pro-social behaviour, but at minimal cost to the helper. Hence the major problem for psychologists has been determining what is truly altruistic and what might better be explained in terms of egoism (self interest).

Batson's empathy-altruism hypothesis (Batson 1991) explains altruistic behaviour as a consequence of empathetic concern for another person who needs help. According to this model we experience empathy if we feel an emotional response that is consistent with another person's emotional state (e.g. feeling sad when they are sad). Batson believed that as a result of experiencing empathetic concern for another person, we are therefore motivated to help them when they are in distress. Empathy consists of a number of different components, including the ability to see things from another person's perspective, the experience of personal distress, and finally empathetic concern for the other person. Batson believed that seeing things from the perspective was crucial in the development of empathetic concern. If the perspective of the other person is not taken, we are more likely to experience distress without the empathetic concern that leads to helping.                        

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Cialdini's negative-state relief model (Cialdini et al 1987) claims that when we come across a person in distress, it creates a negative emotional state in us (such as sadness or guilt). As this state is unpleasant, we are motivated to get rid of it in whatever way we can. People tend to learn during childhood that helping others in need is a positive behaviour that will make them feel good about themselves. Helping someone in need therefore, is personally rewarding, and we are able to eliminate our negative state. According to the negative-state relief model, the main objective in ...

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