IB Psychology Topic Prosocial Behavior Revision Notes (SL/HL)

IB Psychology Topic Prosocial Behavior Revision Notes (SL/HL) | RevisionDojo

Written by official IB examiners

Prosocial Behavior: Why We Help Others

Prosocial behavior refers to voluntary actions intended to benefit others, such as helping, sharing, or comforting.
Altruism is a specific type of prosocial behavior where the helper expects no personal gain.

Note

Prosocial behavior is a broader term that includes altruism.
Not all prosocial acts are altruistic — some are motivated by self-interest.

Theories Explaining Prosocial Behavior

Empathy-Altruism Theory
1. Proposed by Batson: empathy drives people to help others selflessly.
2. When we feel empathic concern for someone, we help even when it costs us.

Example

Batson et al. (1981)
- Aim: To test whether empathy leads to altruistic behavior.
- Procedure: Participants listened to a recording of "Elaine" receiving electric shocks. They were asked to either imagine how she felt or remain objective, and could choose to take her place.
- Results: Those in the high-empathy condition were more likely to help, even when escape was easy.
- Conclusion: Empathy increases the likelihood of altruistic behavior.

Tip

Empathy has two components: cognitive (understanding another's perspective) and emotional (feeling what they feel).
Both components can independently increase prosocial behavior.

Kin Selection Theory
1. An evolutionary theory: people are more likely to help those who share their genes.
2. Helping relatives increases the chances of genetic survival, even at personal cost.

Example

Sime (1983)
- Aim: To investigate whether people help relatives more during emergencies.
- Procedure: Analysed escape patterns of people fleeing a burning building.
- Results: People stayed with relatives more often than with friends or strangers.
- Conclusion: Kin selection influences helping behavior in real emergencies.

Analogy

Kin selection can be understood as a biological investment.
By helping relatives, individuals indirectly increase the chances that shared genes are passed on, even without conscious intent.

Social Exchange Theory
1. Helping is driven by a cost-benefit analysis: people help when rewards outweigh costs.
2. Rewards may include feeling good or social approval. Costs include time, effort, or risk.

Example

Piliavin et al. (1969)
- Aim: To study factors influencing helping behavior in a public setting.
- Procedure: Confederates collapsed on a subway, appearing either drunk or ill.
- Results: People were more likely to help the ill confederate, especially when the cost of not helping (e.g., guilt) was high.
- Conclusion: Helping behavior is influenced by perceived costs and benefits.

Nice try, unfortunately this paywall isn't as easy to bypass as you think. Want to help devleop the site? Join the team at https://revisiondojo.com/join-us. exercitation voluptate cillum ullamco excepteur sint officia do tempor Lorem irure minim Lorem elit id voluptate reprehenderit voluptate laboris in nostrud qui non Lorem nostrud laborum culpa sit occaecat reprehenderit

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit.

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Prosocial Behavior: Why We Help Others

Prosocial behavior refers to voluntary actions intended to benefit others, such as helping, sharing, or comforting.
Altruism is a specific type of prosocial behavior where the helper expects no personal gain.

Note

Prosocial behavior is a broader term that includes altruism.
Not all prosocial acts are altruistic — some are motivated by self-interest.

Theories Explaining Prosocial Behavior

Empathy-Altruism Theory
1. Proposed by Batson: empathy drives people to help others selflessly.
2. When we feel empathic concern for someone, we help even when it costs us.

Example

Batson et al. (1981)
- Aim: To test whether empathy leads to altruistic behavior.
- Procedure: Participants listened to a recording of "Elaine" receiving electric shocks. They were asked to either imagine how she felt or remain objective, and could choose to take her place.
- Results: Those in the high-empathy condition were more likely to help, even when escape was easy.
- Conclusion: Empathy increases the likelihood of altruistic behavior.

Tip

Empathy has two components: cognitive (understanding another's perspective) and emotional (feeling what they feel).
Both components can independently increase prosocial behavior.

Kin Selection Theory
1. An evolutionary theory: people are more likely to help those who share their genes.
2. Helping relatives increases the chances of genetic survival, even at personal cost.

Example

Sime (1983)
- Aim: To investigate whether people help relatives more during emergencies.
- Procedure: Analysed escape patterns of people fleeing a burning building.
- Results: People stayed with relatives more often than with friends or strangers.
- Conclusion: Kin selection influences helping behavior in real emergencies.

Analogy

Kin selection can be understood as a biological investment.
By helping relatives, individuals indirectly increase the chances that shared genes are passed on, even without conscious intent.

Social Exchange Theory
1. Helping is driven by a cost-benefit analysis: people help when rewards outweigh costs.
2. Rewards may include feeling good or social approval. Costs include time, effort, or risk.

Example

Piliavin et al. (1969)
- Aim: To study factors influencing helping behavior in a public setting.
- Procedure: Confederates collapsed on a subway, appearing either drunk or ill.
- Results: People were more likely to help the ill confederate, especially when the cost of not helping (e.g., guilt) was high.
- Conclusion: Helping behavior is influenced by perceived costs and benefits.

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

Biological Approach4 subtopics

Cognitive Approach4 subtopics

Sociocultural Approach4 subtopics

Option 1: Abnormal Psychology3 subtopics

Option 2: Developmental Psychology3 subtopics

Option 3: Health Psychology3 subtopics

Option 4: Human Relationships3 subtopics

IB Psychology Prosocial Behavior Notes

Biological Approach4 subtopics

Cognitive Approach4 subtopics

Sociocultural Approach4 subtopics

Option 1: Abnormal Psychology3 subtopics

Option 2: Developmental Psychology3 subtopics

Option 3: Health Psychology3 subtopics

Option 4: Human Relationships3 subtopics

Prosocial Behavior: Why We Help Others

Theories Explaining Prosocial Behavior

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Prosocial Behavior: Why We Help Others

Theories Explaining Prosocial Behavior

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account