prosocial behavior and the impact it can have on ourselves and others

Chapter 10

Helping Others

It was their bravery that compelled them to risk their lives, but it was their compassion that ultimately saved them. Six firefighters from New York City’s Ladder Company 6 were among the many rescue workers who courageously climbed up the stairs of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

Evolutionary and Motivational Factors: Why Do People Help?

Evolutionary factors in helping (prosocial behaviors)

The “Selfish Gene” kin selection

Reciprocal Altruism; empathy;

Rewards of helping: Helping others to help oneself; feeling good

The cost of helping or not helping;

Altruism or Egoism: the great debate

The Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis

Convergence of Motivations: Volunteering;

Helping as a default?

The Bystander Effect

Noticing; Interpreting; pluralistic ignorance;

Taking responsibility; diffusion of responsibility;

The Bystander Effect Online; Avoiding the Bystander Effect;

The Legacy of the Bystander Effect Research;

Deciding how to help and providing help –audience inhibition

Time Pressure;

Moods and Helping – Good Moods and Doing Good; Bad Moods and doing Good

Prosocial Media Effects

Role Models and Social Influence;

Are some people more helpful than others?

What is the Altruistic Personality?

Culture and Helping

Interpersonal Influences: Whom Do People Help?

Perceived Characteristics of the Person in Need: Attractiveness; Attributions of Responsibility;

A Little Help for Our Friends, and Others like Us –identity fusion

Gender and Helping

Culture and Who Receives Help - Social norms

Chapter 14: Stress and Health

What Causes Stress?

Crisis and Catastrophes; Major Live Events; Microstressors: The Hassles of Everyday Life

How Does Stress Affect the Body?

The General Adaptation Syndrome; What Stress Does to the Heart; What Stress Does to the Immune System; The Links Between Stress and Illness;

Processes of Appraisal

Attributions and Explanatory Styles; The Human Capacity for Resilience; Pollyanna’s Health

Ways of Coping With Stress

Problem-Focused Coping; Emotion-Focused Coping; Proactive Coping; Culture and Coping

Treatment and Prevention

Treatment: The “Social” Ingredients; Prevention: Getting the Message Across

The Pursuit of Happiness

Does Money Buy Happiness?

Emerging Science on How to Increase Happiness