Antisocial and prosocial behaviour

• What is antisocial behavior?

  Voluntary, intentional behavior designed to hurt or cause distress to another person, physically or psychologically.
• What is the bystander effect?


  The tendency for a person who is present in an emergency to be less likely to try to help if other people are present.
• What is diffusion of responsibility?

  The tendency to subjectively divide personal responsibility to help by the number of people present.
• How does audience inhibition affect bystander intervention?

  People feel inhibited when there is an audience because they fear negative evaluation when intervening.
• What did the Australian study by Platow et al. (2005) reveal about social influence?


  The influence of groups is stronger if individuals identify with the group.
• What was the purpose of the study involving university students and a stand-up comedian's audiotape?

  To examine how the presence of 'canned' laughter influenced students' perceptions of humor.
• What is cost-benefit analysis in the context of bystander behavior?

  A model suggesting that bystanders weigh the costs and benefits of helping versus not helping in an emergency.
• What is groupthink?


  A phenomenon where a group makes irrational decisions due to the urge to conform or the belief that dissent is impossible.

  
• How does high stress contribute to groupthink?

  High stress creates time pressure, leading to fast decision-making that may not be optimal.
• What are the factors influencing antisocial behavior?

  • Diffusion of responsibility
  • Audience inhibition
  • Social influence
  • Cost-benefit analysis
  • Groupthink
• What is the definition of bullying?

  A form of aggressive behavior where one person intentionally and repeatedly causes another person injury or discomfort.
• What is the common element in all bullying?

  The perception that one individual or group has more social or physical power over another.
• What is mobbing in the context of bullying?

  Bullying perpetrated by a group where a powerful individual or group uses perceived power to menace others.
• What did the Kitty Genovese case illustrate about the bystander effect?

  It showed that multiple witnesses may not intervene in an emergency, believing others will help.
• What was the Smoky Room Experiment designed to investigate?

  It investigated the phenomenon of diffusion of responsibility in emergency situations.
• What were the results of the Smoky Room Experiment when subjects were alone compared to when they were in groups?

  Subjects alone were more likely to report smoke than those in groups, where intervention decreased significantly.

  
• What did participants in the Smoky Room Experiment report feeling hesitant about?

  Participants felt hesitant about showing anxiety and looked to others for signs of anxiety.
• What are the limitations of the original account of the Kitty Genovese case?

  • Doubts cast on the accuracy of the account
  • Implications of Darley and Latané's research questioned

  
• What is the main takeaway from the study conducted by Darley and Latané?

  They coined the terms 'diffusion of responsibility' and 'bystander effect' and highlighted their differences.
• How do diffusion of responsibility and bystander effect differ?

  The bystander effect refers to the inhibiting influence of others on willingness to help, while diffusion of responsibility refers to the decrease in personal responsibility as the number of bystanders increases.

  
• What is the justification often used by bullies?

  Bullies often justify their behavior by claiming the victim caused the bullying.
• What does the bystander effect refer to?

  The inhibiting influence of the presence of others on a person’s willingness to help someone in need.
• How does diffusion of responsibility affect bystanders?

  As the number of bystanders increases, the personal responsibility that an individual bystander feels decreases.
• What is bullying?


  A form of aggressive behavior where one person intentionally and repeatedly causes another person injury or discomfort.
• What is a common characteristic of bullying victims?

  The victim has difficulty defending himself/herself and has done nothing to ‘cause’ the bullying behavior of the other.
• What is a common element in all bullying situations?

  The perception that one individual or group has more social or physical power over another individual or group.
• What is mobbing in the context of bullying?

  Bullying that is perpetrated by a group.
• How do bullies justify their behavior?

  Bullies justify their behavior based on perceived differences between themselves and their victims.
• In what settings can bullying occur?

  Bullying can occur in schools, clubs, workplaces, families, neighborhoods, universities, prisons, military, and online/social media.
• What are the different ways bullying can be perpetrated?

  Bullying can be physical, verbal, relational, and cyber.
• How can bystanders influence the culture of bullying?

  If bystanders do not speak out against bullying, they may be perceived as endorsing the behavior, strengthening the culture of bullying.
• What is cyberbullying?

  The sending of hurtful or threatening messages via the internet.
• What are some effects of bullying on victims?

  Victims are at risk of anxiety, stress, and even suicide, and may experience loneliness, depression, panic attacks, and low self-esteem.
• What are the factors influencing prosocial behavior?

  • Reciprocity principle
  • Social responsibility
  • Personal characteristics (empathy, mood, competence)
  • Altruism
• What is prosocial behavior?

  Voluntary helping behavior intended to benefit others.
• What are some examples of prosocial behaviors?


  Charity, helping a stranger in need, rescue, sacrifice, sharing, expressing sympathy, aiding/assisting.
• What is a norm in the context of social behavior?

  A norm is a form of action or behavior that is standardized and expected in society.
• How do social norms influence prosocial behavior?

  It is generally expected in most societies that prosocial behavior is normal, especially when there is minimal cost to the helper.
• What is the biological explanation for prosocial behavior?

  It sees prosocial behavior as genetic, suggesting humans naturally help others to protect our common gene pool.
• What is the environmental explanation for prosocial behavior?

  It views prosocial behavior as learned during the socialization process through classical and operant conditioning and observational learning.