Altruistic behavior: situational and personal variables
The article is based on the book ""Social psychology"" by David Myers.
Situational variables:
- :We help when others do the same
Examples of altruistic behavior encourage altruism. People are more willing to donate money, more likely to agree to become a blood donor, help on the road-if they see how others do it.
- Time factor
If a person has free time, they are more willing to help outsiders. In a hurry, the probability of altruism falls sharply.
- Personification:
Anything that somehow personifies an eyewitness – a request addressed to them personally, eye contact, the fact that they will introduce themselves to others, or the expectation of further contact with the victim or with other witnesses-makes them more likely to help.
Personal variables:
Under the influence of guilt, people are more likely to commit altruistic acts. This helps them to get rid of remorse and restore self-esteem. Adults, being in a bad mood, often help, because they get moral satisfaction from doing good deeds. In a happy mood, people (who have just received a gift or are excited by their success) are also more likely to help selflessly.
- Personal quality.
Extremely emotional, compassionate, and active people tend to take care of others and provide assistance more than others. Individuals with a high level of self-control, sensitive to the expectations of others, are particularly likely to provide assistance if they believe that it will be socially rewarded. In a potentially dangerous situation, when a stranger needs help (for example, a punctured tire or a fall in a subway car), men often help. But in situations that are not about life and death, women are more responsive. In long-term, close relationships, women are significantly more likely to be altruistic than men - they are more likely to respond to requests from friends and spend more time helping.
- Religion
- Gender
Men are more likely to help women in trouble. Women are equally responsive to both men and women.
- Similarity