Microsoft Word Chapter 1 done doc

12.2.2 Negative State Relief Model :(Cialdini, Baumann & Kenrick 
1981) 
According to this model we help either because our actions 
allow us to reduce our own negative feelings. These negative 
feelings are not necessarily aroused by emergency situation. We 
engage in prosocial act as a way to improve our own negative 
mood. In such cases unhappiness leads to prosocial behaviour. In 
such situations empathy may be there or not. 
 
12.2.3 Empathic Joy : 
 
Helping behaviour has been explained by Empathic Joy 
Hypothesis (Smith, Kealing & Stotland 1989). This theory suggests 
that helper responds and helps victims not because of empathy but 
because he wants to accomplish something and doing so is 
rewarding. The argument goes like this if we help people only for 
empathy, then they would not be concerned about feedback. 
To test this hypothesis Smith Keating and Stotland 
performed an experiment. In this experiment female student said 
that she might drop out of college because she felt isolated and 
distressed. She was described as similar to one group and 
dissimilar to other group. After watching the videotape the 
participants were asked to give helpful advice. Some were told that 
they would be given a feedback of effectiveness of their advice 
others were told that they would not come to know what student 
decided to do. 
Results showed that participants were helpful only if there 
was high empathy and feedback about the advice. 
 
 
 

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12.2.4 Competitive Altruism : 
According to this view people help others because in doing 
so their status and reputation is enhanced. Thus, the benefits 
incurred are larger than the cost of the prosocial behaviour. 
 
Those people who help others get higher status because 
society will always prefer to have people who engage in prosocial 
behaviour. If helping person has higher status then such a person 
may be well compensated for engaging in prosocial action. They 
are not only treated as a star but they may have entire buildings 
named after them. The best example is dead diction centre at 
Poone, Yerwada, named after P.L. Deshpande, the famous Marathi 
author. 
Hardy and Van Vugt performed an interesting study (2006).
In this study participant engaged in a public good dilemma. It was 
a game in which players could earn money for themselves or entire 
group. 
At the start participants were given 100 Pence and they were 
told that they could contribute any amount to a private fund, which 
they could keep as individuals, and any amount they wished to 
group fund. This could be divided equally among three group 
members. In one condition the participants were informed how 
other members contributed to public and private fund. In one 
condition the participants received information on other’s 
contribution to the public and private fund and were told that 
information about their contributions would be also provided to 
other participants. This was a reputation condition where by 
donating to group would bring enhanced reputation and status to 
donors. 
In other conditions participants did not receive any 
information regarding the player’s choices. Those acting in 
prosocial behaviour would not receive any information regarding 
other player’s choices and thus it would not necessarily boost, the 
donor’s reputation When later were asked to rate each member’s 
status, the results offered clear support for Altruism Hypothesis. 
In reputation condition when prosocial actions were known to 
others the players donated more generously. The more one 
donated, higher was the status. 
Hardy and Van Vugt (2006) found that the greater, the cost 
involved in behaving in prosocial manner, greater the gains in 
status to people who behave in this way. Additional studies also 
suggest that people engage in prosocial behaviour as a way of 
boosting their social status. 

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In general, helping others is a signal to others that doing so 
would enhance their status. The benefits that are received are 
substantially more than the costs incurred.