Application: Pro-Social Behavior
Pro-social behavior is behavior that is intended to benefit others (Fiske, 2014). There are various schools of thought regarding why individuals engage in pro-social behavior. These explanations include egocentric purposes, altruistic purposes, collective purposes, or adherence to moral standards. In addition to motivation, it is important to consider how situational factors affect pro-social behavior (Fiske, 2014).
For this week's application, review the Learning Resources (Fiske, Chapter 9; Darley & Latane, 1968) as well as supplemental sources you determine using Walden's Library.
The Assignment (3-5 pages)
• Define pro-social behavior.
• Explain three potential conditions in which diffusion of responsibility might occur and why.
• Explain the steps of pro-social behavior and the significance of each step.
• Be specific and use the current literature to support your response.
• Course Text: Fiske, S. T. (2014). Social beings: Core motives in social psychology. (3rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
o Chapter 9, "Helping: Prosocial Behavior"
Course Text: The Sage handbook of social psychology
o Chapter 10, "Interpersonal Attraction and Intimate Relationships"
Book Excerpt: Crisp, R. J., & Turner, R. N. (2010). Chapter 12: Friendship and love. In Essential social psychology (2nd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Sage.
Article: Darley, J. M., & Latané, B. (1968). Bystander intervention in emergencies: Diffusion of responsibility. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 8(4), 377-383.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Article: Latané, B., & Darley, J. (1968). Group inhibition of bystander intervention in emergencies. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 10(3), 215-221.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Optional Resources
• Article: Piff, P. K., Kraus, M. W., Cote, S., Cheng, B. H., & Keltner, D. (2010). Having less, giving more: The influence of social class on prosocial behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 99(5), 771-784.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
• Article: Safrilsyah, S., Jusoff, K., & Fadhil, R. (2009). Prosocial behavior motivation of Acheness volunteers in helping tsunami disaster victims. Canadian Social Science, 5(3), 50-55.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
• Website: Social Psychology Network. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2011, from http://www.socialpsychology.org/
• Article: Cramer, D., & Jowett, S. (2010). Perceived empathy, accurate empathy, and relationship satisfaction in heterosexual couples.
Journal of Social & Personal Relationships, 27(3), 327-349.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
• Article: Felmlee, D., Orzechowicz, D., & Fortes, C. (2011). Fairy tales: Attraction and stereotypes in same-gender relationships. Sex Roles, 62(3/4), 226-240.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
• Website: Social Psychology Network. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2011, from http://www.socialpsychology.org/