Developmental psychology.pdf

Social Behavior 505
"en 5
Figure 18.18
Mood and Altruism. Children in a '
sad mood were less generous in
sharing money than were children in
a neutral condition. Most generous of
all were children in .a happy mood
(Moore, Underwood, & Rosenhan,
1973).
Sad Neutral Happy
mood condition mood
we have stressed previously, we would be quite concerned about a science in which
most of the results were contrary to personal experience.
What would you predict about altruism, in which one person helps another
for no obvious reward? Such behavior appears to be sacrificial, performed as an end
in itself, and for this reason it has long interested scientists and philosophers alike.
Would the most altruistic personality in the psychology class be the man with the briefcase,
the pair in ponchos, or the middle-aged woman wearing dark clothes?
In one study a number of students in divinity school walked alone through a
back alley, passing a slumping figure in a doorway. This man, with his head down and
eyes closed, was shabbily dressed, and he coughed and groaned as each student opened
the door to the building. Did the students offer assistance or pass by, continuing with
personal business?
Temporary States Some of the students were on their way to give a brief talk on
the parable of the good Samaritan. Others were planning to speak on careers after
graduation from divinity school. Some subjects in each group were in a great hurry;
others were just about on time; still others had time to spare. Of all these people, 40
percent offered aid, directly or indirectly to the person slumped in the doorway.
Those who offered aid were not necessarily the students with the idea of the
good Samaritan in mind, and they were not necessarily those thinking about careers
after graduation. Instead, the factor that made the difference was the time element.
The students most likely to help were those with a few minutes to spare. Those least
likely to stop were in great haste. In later interviews it was found that the hurried
subjects experienced some emotional upset after their encounter in the alleyway, but
to stop and help would have meant a delay in proceedings that other people had carefully
arranged. Another loyalty, rather than insensitivity, seemed partly responsible for
their failure to offer assistance (Darley & Batson, 1973).
Behavior is complex, however, and having time to spare is not the only factor.
Being in a good mood is also important (Isen & Levin, 1972; Figure 18.18).
We are reminded here of attribution theory and the fundamental attribution
error. It seems unwise to decide that a certain type of personality, such as the man with
the briefcase or an older woman, will inevitably stop and assist. The person's temporary
state may play a role, and even more critical factors seem to be related to the situation.
Situational Factors One of the factors in the external situation that seems most
influential is the presence of other people. When several people are present, any given
individual is less likely to intervene, for there seems to be a perceived diffusion of
responsibility, meaning that others can take action. For example, when a college student
overheard someone having an epileptic seizure, his effort to help was decidedly slower
and less frequent when he believed that another person also heard the victim's cries,