Altruism & the New (non- American) Social Psychology. Prosocial behaviour is. Altruism is. Week 10

Transcription

1 Altruism & the New (non- American) Social Psychology Week 10 Dr Geoff Denham 1 Prosocial behaviour is Prosocial behaviour refers to acts that are positively valued by society ( Vaughan & Hogg, 2002, p. 394). Prosocial behaviour is described as behaviour that has positive social consequences and contributes to the psychological/ physical well being of another person. Dr Geoff Denham 2 Altruism is Altruism according to V & H is a special form of helping behaviour, sometimes costly, that shows concern for fellow human beings and is performed without expectation of personal gain (p.394). Psychologists define altruistic behaviour as an action that increases the welfare of others, without regard for one s self interest Callan & Gallois (1991, p. 143) [in the Chapter Altruistic Behaviour: Helping and Dr Geoff Denham 3 resisting on E-reserve] 1

2 A question Could the action of a suicide bomber be considered prosocial behaviour? Altruistic behaviour? Is it possible to show unequivocally that an act is altruistic? Dr Geoff Denham 4 Q: Why do people help? An innate altruistic impulse in all of us The following of social norms A learned response from early childhood (C & G p. 144) Dr Geoff Denham 5 A: from Evolutionary social psychology Patterns of social behaviour are biologically adaptive That we are pre-programmed to behave in particularly ways That the (say) altruistic allele is selected by a Darwinian process. Dr Geoff Denham 6 2

3 Altruism in nature-1 Honour among (Costa Rican) vampires Eusocial behaviour in insects Direct fitness + indirect fitness = inclusive fitness Dr Geoff Denham 7 Altruism in nature 2 Kin selection Hamilton s rule: one organism should only help another if B/C>1/r Dr Geoff Denham 8 Altruism in nature-3 Social living & division of labour among bees Dr Geoff Denham 9 3

4 Objections to Evolutionary Social Psychology 1 Altruistic behaviour can be seen in help profferred to a complete stranger Dr Geoff Denham 10 Objections to Evolutionary Social Psychology 2 The assumption of a simple causal relation between genetic endowment and social behaviour (Contrary to this assumption, there is a complex interplay between genetic development and environmental exposure) Dr Geoff Denham 11 Objections to Evolutionary Social Psychology- 3 Altruistic behaviour is historically and socially specific & culturally defined Dr Geoff Denham 12 4

5 An illustration of the complex interplay (Coen, 1999, p.225) Brain development and exposure to environmental conditions is interrelated Eg. covering the eye and its effect on neural connections to the eye Dr Geoff Denham 13 Evolutionary Social Psychology: a summary Alruistic behaviour is defined by social, cultural and historical context There is not a simple relation between the gene pool and social behaviour Genotype and phenotype are intertwined as Coen s illustration suggests Dr Geoff Denham 14 Why do people help? language creates a domain which has no counterpart in the animal world- an elaborate system of rules and norms, rights and duties without which it would be impossible to visualise, let alone describe, the realities of human existence. It is only inside this framework that concepts such as shame, pride, honour, embarrassment, and humiliation have any meaning. And according to psychologists such as Rom Harre it is these considerations which determine the conduct of life (Miller,1983, p.?). Dr Geoff Denham 15 5

6 A: from New Social Psychology The New Social Psychology s answer- (Harre) Rules, norms, rights and duties are embedded in our language and in the conventions which it routinises Dr Geoff Denham 16 New Social Psychology - as a response to pseudo-science Pseudo-science in social psychology- it is not enough to adopt the mannerisms of scientists Dr Geoff Denham 17 New Social Psychology- the new part Science requires A recognition of recurring patterns Use of bold explanatory models/theories (ie. models need explanatory power) There is nothing so useful as a good theory A recognition that data itself is mute (it does not speak) Science is never performed by just looking Dr Geoff Denham 18 6

7 New Social Psychology - main concepts 1 Practical order Directed at material and biological ends Expressive order Presentation of self in manner which preserves self as rational and worthy of respect Dr Geoff Denham 19 Practical & Expressive orders Practical aspects of activity occupies 8-10% of human time Expressive aspects of activity jointly explain social formations eg maintaining honour Dr Geoff Denham 20 The search for honour Preservation and maintenance of honour an explanation of altruistic behaviour Dr Geoff Denham 21 7

8 New Social Psychology- main concepts 2 Teleological perspective what is teleology? Teleology: study of purposes, or objects, or goals Purposes of much human behaviour: social recognition and the quest for respect Dr Geoff Denham 22 Display public active individual Realisation collective Agency passive private Dr Geoff Denham 23 Display Altruism public active individual Realisation collective Agency passive private Dr Geoff Denham 24 8

9 New Social Psychology -1 Social life a cultural achievement. Social acts (including altruism) are achieved by convention and ritual and conforming to social rules Dr Geoff Denham 25 New Social Psychology- 2 Moral careers are established by exemplary biographies Character / reputation produced by collectives (not by individuals directly) Dr Geoff Denham 26 C & G s treatment of Altruism Social norms ; social responsibilitiy and personal norms (p.144-5) Social perspective taking (p.147) Latane & Darley s cognitive model (p ) Dr Geoff Denham 27 9

10 A summary What is the cultural norm? Altruism defined (ambiguously) by prevailing social practices in the west Dr Geoff Denham 28 Questions Light flashing among motorists to warn of speed traps Giving directions to tourists Encouraging your children to study Assisting an injured motorist Dr Geoff Denham 29 References Anonymous. (2005, 15th March). Together we are stronger. New Scientist, liftout. Coen, E. (1999). The Art of Genes: How organisms make themselves. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Harre, R. (1979). Social Being: A theory for social psychology. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. Harre, R. (1983). Personal Being: A theory for individual psychology. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. Harre, R. (1983). An analysis of social activity. In J. Miller (Ed.), States of mind. London: British Broadcasting Corporation. Dr Geoff Denham 30 10

11 Harre s work: a sample Harre, R. (Ed.). (1976). Life sentences: Aspects of the social role of language. NY: Wiley. Harre, R. (Ed.). (1986). The social construction of emotions. Oxford and NY: Basil Blackwell. Harre, R. (1998). The singular self: An introduction to the psychology of personhood. Thousand Oaks, CA, US: Sage Publications, Inc. Harre, R., & Secord, P. F. (1972). The explanation of social behaviour. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. Dr Geoff Denham 31 11