Pro Social Behavior & Aggression (Lecture 20, 21 &22)

Any act performed with the goal of benefiting another person.

The pure desire to help another person, even if it involves a cost to the helper.

Helping behavior that is spontaneous, minor, and does not involve much effort, such as holding the door for someone.

Helping behavior that involves a more considerable commitment of time and resources, such as offering emotional support during a difficult time.

Helping behavior that occurs in response to an urgent situation, such as saving someone from a car accident.

The theory that helping behaviors are adaptive for survival, especially when they promote the survival of kin (kin selection) or reciprocal helping.

The idea that behaviors that help a genetic relative are favored by natural selection because they increase the likelihood of the helper’s genes being passed on.

The theory that people help others when the rewards outweigh the costs, such as social approval, relief from distress, or feeling good about oneself.

The hypothesis that when we feel empathy for another person, we help for altruistic reasons, not for self-benefit.

The tendency to rely on others in an ambiguous situation to determine if help is needed, which can lead to inaction if others don’t respond.

The tendency for individuals to feel less responsible for helping when others are present, reducing the likelihood that any one person will intervene.

The phenomenon where the presence of others discourages an individual from helping, as the responsibility to act is perceived to be shared.

An experiment by Darley and Batson (1973) that demonstrated how time pressure and situational factors, like hurry, affect people’s willingness to help.

Behavior intended to injure another person who is motivated to avoid it.

Aggression stemming from anger and aimed at inflicting pain or injury.

Aggression used as a means to achieve a goal other than causing harm, such as a football player tackling an opponent to win the game.

Aggression that harms others through manipulation of relationships or social standing, such as gossiping or excluding someone.

The theory that aggression is an automatic response to frustration, which occurs when goal-directed behavior is blocked.

The phenomenon where the mere presence of weapons in a situation can increase aggressive thoughts, feelings, and actions.

The theory that aggressive behavior is learned through direct rewards and observation of others engaging in aggressive behavior.

A famous study by Bandura et al. (1961) showing that children who observed an adult acting aggressively toward a doll were more likely to imitate that behavior.

The idea that venting or "blowing off steam" through aggressive behavior or watching others behave aggressively will reduce anger and aggression.

Alcohol increases aggression by reducing inhibitions, impairing the ability to process information, and priming aggressive behavior.

Testosterone is associated with increased aggression, as higher levels have been linked to higher likelihoods of aggressive behavior.

The theory that people living in urban areas experience so much stimulation that they become desensitized to it, leading to less helping behavior and more aggression.

Punishment may reduce aggression, but severe punishments are often ineffective, while mild punishment can deter aggression more effectively.

The theory that aggressive behavior is learned through both direct rewards and by observing others engage in aggressive actions.

The updated theory that explains how frustration increases aggression, but only under certain conditions such as perceived intentionality or proximity to the goal.

Men are more likely than women to engage in physical aggression, especially extreme violence, while women are more likely to engage in relational aggression.

Increased heat has been shown to correlate with higher levels of aggression, such as more violent behavior or more aggressive driving.

Consuming violent media can increase aggression by priming aggressive thoughts, weakening inhibitions, and providing models for aggressive behavior.

The theory that the presence of aggressive stimuli, such as weapons, can increase the likelihood of aggressive behavior, especially when frustration is also present.

Alcohol increases aggression by impairing the ability to interpret situations accurately and reducing inhibitions.

Aggression is more likely when individuals are provoked, but people are more likely to show understanding if they attribute the provocation to external causes.

Aggression can vary depending on the context and situational factors, such as environmental stressors, social norms, and perceived threats.