Psychology-Pro Social Behaviour
Psychology Essay 1
Title: Pro social Behaviour Selfless or Selfish. Discuss with reference to social psychology.
Pro Social Behaviour-selfless or selfish
My assignment is based on the discussion of pro social behaviour through social psychology findings and whether it’s thought to be selfish, selfless or both. Pro social behaviour refers to "voluntary actions that are intended to help or benefit another individual or group of individuals" (Eisenberg and Mussen 1989, 3). These behaviours include a broad range of activities such as sharing, comforting, rescuing, and helping. Pro social behaviour is helping someone with no thought of reward or compensation. In this discussion I will argue that there are cases of selfish and selfless pro social behaviour. The literature suggests that pro social behaviour has only been researched since the 1970’s. Social scientists started using the term as an antonym for anti social behaviour. A person who doesn’t expect recognition for helping someone is seen to be doing a selfless act. A simple example of this would be if a person witnessed a car accident, an impulsive reaction would be to run and help. The person doesn’t stop to think what they would benefit from assisting so therefore this act can be considered selfless pro social behaviour. Another example would be a person donating money to a charity anonymously, if no one knows who donated the money then the person is getting no gratitude for it. However one could argue that there is a small degree of selfishness involved as the person may feel some self gratitude. It can also be argued that some charities have employees who are paid on commission, being paid for the ‘harder’ they work. Therefore they are benefiting financially (reward / compensation) despite carrying out these kind acts. Is the help performed in these tasks motivated by the prospect of some benefit for ourselves, however subtle? This draws the discussion of Pro Social behaviour, Selfless or Selfish?
Title: Pro social Behaviour Selfless or Selfish. Discuss with reference to social psychology.
Pro Social Behaviour-selfless or selfish
My assignment is based on the discussion of pro social behaviour through social psychology findings and whether it’s thought to be selfish, selfless or both. Pro social behaviour refers to "voluntary actions that are intended to help or benefit another individual or group of individuals" (Eisenberg and Mussen 1989, 3). These behaviours include a broad range of activities such as sharing, comforting, rescuing, and helping. Pro social behaviour is helping someone with no thought of reward or compensation. In this discussion I will argue that there are cases of selfish and selfless pro social behaviour. The literature suggests that pro social behaviour has only been researched since the 1970’s. Social scientists started using the term as an antonym for anti social behaviour. A person who doesn’t expect recognition for helping someone is seen to be doing a selfless act. A simple example of this would be if a person witnessed a car accident, an impulsive reaction would be to run and help. The person doesn’t stop to think what they would benefit from assisting so therefore this act can be considered selfless pro social behaviour. Another example would be a person donating money to a charity anonymously, if no one knows who donated the money then the person is getting no gratitude for it. However one could argue that there is a small degree of selfishness involved as the person may feel some self gratitude. It can also be argued that some charities have employees who are paid on commission, being paid for the ‘harder’ they work. Therefore they are benefiting financially (reward / compensation) despite carrying out these kind acts. Is the help performed in these tasks motivated by the prospect of some benefit for ourselves, however subtle? This draws the discussion of Pro Social behaviour, Selfless or Selfish?
Bibliography: Gross, R.G.(2010). Psychology The Science of Mind and Behaviour 6th edition. Hodder Arnold Publication. Works Cited Tim. Phillips, E. F. (2010). British Journal of Psychology. A link between altruism and sexual selection: Genetic influence on altruistic behaviour and mate preference towards it. http://learningtogive.org/papers/papers52.html -accessed-23/09/2012 http://www.alleydog.com/glossary/definition.php?term=prosocial%20behaviour-accessed-23/09/12 http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/04/06/inside-tania-head-s-terrible-9-11-lie-thewomen-who-wasn-t-there.html - accessed-2/11/12 http://nymag.com/news/articles/wtc/1year/numbers.htm -accessed-2/11/12