men are more impulsive and physically active, while women are more nurturing and supportive. Personality characteristics such as agreeableness and the prosocial personali
I wonder what causes this difference? Is it biological, societal, or a bit of both?
“In fact, it is quite remarkable how the fates of people who have never met can be so intertwined and complementary. Your benefit is mine; and mine is yours”
The perspective in this textbook is very optimistic and poetic. Despite arguing that there are no truly altruistic actions, it says that what really matters is that it is done with good intentions and both people benefit. A good deed is a good deed, regardless of motives.
we vicariously experience a sympathetic arousal that is unpleasant, and we are motivated to eliminate that aversive state.
This is very interesting and something that I didn't think about very explicitly before. It's weird to think that the people who are the most empathetic may also have the most motivation to help others out of selfishness.
it may have been misperceived as a lover’s spat by someone who just wanted to go back to sleep.
It's scary thought, but we can be very good at lying to ourselves and justifying our own immoral actions when we have the motivation. This is chilling idea, but I think it's ultimately true.
fleeing the situation causing their distress may do the trick
This is an alternative that will result in the same sense of renewed well-being of the individual, but means the victim is left without aid. I wonder what affects fleeing has on someone's mind. Do they still feel forced to justify themselves or is it "out of sight, out of mind?"
Whenever we are feeling sad, we can use helping someone else as a positive mood boost to feel happier.
This textbook focuses much more on the intangible rewards of helping people, which I think are often the most applicable. While sometimes our motivations may be social or monetary in the case of altruistic professions, often time we are seeking an emotional gain.
Knowing that someone else could help seems to relieve bystanders of personal responsibility
Another aspect of this could be the thought that others may be more able to help. If there is a medical problem that someone needs help with, I would not feel equipped to address it. I don't think that it is as black and white as not wanting to help, it may also be tied to a sense of inferiority. On the other hand, any form of help is usually superior to no help - unless the person ends up further harming the victim due to their ineptitude.
which personality and individual difference factors
This was one question that I had when I was answering the questions for the discussion. In the 4th question it asked what sets someone who helps apart from someone who succumbs to the bystander effect. One answer that I though about what the value and beliefs a person hold and how integral they are to someone's personality. From this, I began to question where we get these beliefs. What makes one person have a strong sense of justice and someone else opposed to helping others? Is this purely a subject concerning nurturing or are the more fundamental reasons as well?
“I” encounters “Me.”
Who is the I and who is the Me? When we say "I love myself" or "I hate myself," who are these two part of our identity?
three
The first is purely based on outside observation and behavior, the second is a mixture of our inner dialogue and how is drive our behavior, and the third is purely internal cognition.