Download Altruism and helping

Altruism and helping
Sociobiology explanation
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Altruism is good for surival
Even with risk
Not of the individual
But of the genes
How can that be?
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Mother = 100% of genes
One young = 50% of genes
Four young = 200% of genes
Save one young, lose genes
Save four young, gain genes
So altruism is worth the risk
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Even if reduces adult chance of survival
Better to save young than self
Because it increases gene pool
But……
That depends on
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Chance of survival of mother and young
Chance of reproduction
Compare healthy adult with new-born
New-born unlikely to reach reproductive
age
• So you have to save lots of them
Especially with humans
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In ancient times
Long childhood
Few reach reproductive years
Each reproductive adult is precious
So not worth the risk in terms of genes
Bystander intervention
Less helping in groups
Helping on the subway
100
90
80
70
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50
40
30
20
10
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helped
helped < 90 sec
helped > 90 seconds
cane
drunk
Explanations
• diffusion of responsibility
• interpretation of the situation
• risk
Guilt increases helping
• Feel unworthy so make up for it
• confession reduces the effect
Guilt and helping
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70
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50
did not help
helped
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30
20
10
0
not guilty
guilty
Guilt, confession and helping
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40
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20
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10
5
0
control
guilt
confession
Other factors
• favors and obligation
• feel good
• feel bad
Feel good
• Pay phone study
• cookies and helping
Feel bad
• Sometimes helping makes feel better
• sometimes does not work
• not clear when