Social psychology: helping behavior, self-concept, and modern racism

¶ … social psychology and note how it is different from other, similar fields.

Unlike psychology, which tends to focus on the individual in the context of his or her immediate environment, social psychology focuses on how larger social forces affect the individual. Sociology, the study of individuals in groups, focuses on aggregates rather than individuals.

Discuss three ways in which the presence of others can affect the likelihood that people will help someone in need.

If an individual is being watched, he or she may be more likely to bestow aid. Also, if others immediately try to give help, groupthink may active the impulse to participate. However, there is also the bystander effect, whereby an individual not wanting to get involved assumes that 'someone else' has already called for help.

Q14. Describe how the self-concept develops from the perception of one's own behavior and from comparisons with other people.

Self-concept can be shaped by social forces. For example, some social scientists attribute the increase in obesity to the fact that the social norm of weight has increased, as all of America (and the world) grows fatter. However, it is impossible to see the 'self' exactly as others perceive it. For example, someone with social anxiety or low self-esteem may dread speaking in public because 'everyone is looking at me" and believe that he or she seems incompetent, when others do not judge him or her nearly as harshly.

15. Characterize modern racism. Describe when it is most, and least, likely to be evident.

Modern racism tends to be less overt than previous manifestations of racism. Individuals are less likely to engage in overt acts of discrimination, although unconscious or subtle acts of discrimination are far from uncommon.

Part B.

Television program: Network news

Physical assaults that involve using a weapon or object: 1

Physical assaults that do not involve a weapon or object: 0

Verbal threats of harm: 0

Insults or derogatory remarks: 10

Violent deaths: 0

Accidents in which someone is hurt: 2

On the particular edition of the network news I screened, the main news story was the upcoming health summit between President Obama and congressional leaders. The main acts of violence were the insults used by the Republicans against the president. There was also some coverage of the 'wild weather' sweeping the nation and the injuries caused by snow and ice. Had the focus of the news been upon Iraq, the tally may have been different. The network news is not consistently violent every night, although it can be, unlike crime shows where incidents of violence are a predictable part of the plot.

Decision tree

Source: Prevos, Peter. (2006, January 3). Explanation models for the bystander effect in helping behavior. Psychology 1B. Retrieved February 25, 2010 at http://prevos.net/ola/helping_behaviour.pdf

Step 1. The bystander needs to notice that an event is taking place, but may fail to do so and not provide help.

The killer's girlfriend saw the dying man in a ditch. She did call 911, but was vague and did not ensure there was follow-up on the part of the authorities.

Step 2. The bystander needs to identify the event as some form of emergency. The situation may be ambiguous, preventing help from being given.

The 911 personnel did not believe the calls they received were legitimate because of the demeanor of the callers. The mother of one the killers initially assumed the victim was fine, then at an area hospital.

Step 3. The bystander needs to take responsibility for helping, but might avoid taking responsibility by assuming that somebody else will (diffusion of responsibility);

The friend's mother assumed that the 911 call placed by the killer's girlfriend had resulted in an ambulance being sent to the scene

Step 4. The bystander needs to decide on the appropriate helping response, but may not believe themselves to be competent to do so.

The girlfriend and mother's respective vagueness clearly indicates they were subconsciously not sure it was their 'place' to become involved and possibly get their loved ones in trouble.

Step 5. The bystander needs to implement that response, but this may be against their interest to do so, especially in dangerous situations.

The family members and associates of the killers clearly had a vested interest in not being involved because of their emotional attachment to the young men, and their own fears of involvement

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