SOP3004-Ch. 12 Test Questions with
Solved Solutions.
What is altruism? (LO#1) - Answer A motive to increase another's welfare without conscious
regard for one's self-interests
What characterizes an altruistic person? (LO#1) - Answer Someone who is concerned and
helpful even when no benefits are offered or expected in return
Describe empathy-based altruism. (LO#1) - Answer When their empathy is aroused, people
will help; even when their help is anonymous or will not impact their mood
Who do we most feel empathy towards? (LO#1) - Answer Those with whom we identify and
are exposed to
Example: Millions of people cried when England's Princess Diana died, but none shed tears for
the 1 million faceless Rwandans murdered since 1994
What is the Social Exchange Theory? (LO#2) - Answer The theory that human interactions
are transactions that aim to maximize one's rewards and minimize one's costs; people help
because it can be personally rewarding
What does the Social Exchange Theory imply? (LO#2) - Answer That helpful acts are never
truly altruistic; they are motivated by egoism
Egoism (LO#2) - Answer A motive (supposedly underlying all behavior) to increase one's own
welfare; the opposite of altruism
What is the "formula" for the Social Exchange Theory? (LO#2) - Answer Rewards - Costs =
Profit
Give an example from the book of the Social Exchange Theory. (LO#2) - Answer When asked
to participate in a blood drive, you might implicitly weigh the costs of donating (needle prick,
time, fatigue) against those of not donating (guilt, disapproval) and also weigh the benefits of
donating (feeling good about helping someone, free T-shirt) against those of not donating
(saving the time, discomfort and anxiety)
What is an internal reason why we may help? (LO#2) - Answer Bad feelings can lead to
increased helping
, In what situations would bad feelings lead to an increase in helping? (LO#2) - Answer
Distress- we may help those in distress in order to reduce our own distress
Guilt- people are more likely to do good after behaving badly; restore a shaken self-image
Bad feelings usually lead to increased helping, EXCEPT when: (LO#2) - Answer Depression
and grief can lead to self-preoccupation that decreases helping
Explain how when we feel good, we tend to do good. (LO#2) - Answer Happy people are
helpful people; a positive mood is, in turn, conductive to positive thoughts and positive self-
esteem, which predisposes us to positive behavior
Give an example of how good feelings can also increase helping. (LO#2) - Answer In an
experiment, people received an envelope with cash that some were instructed to spend on
themselves, while others were instructed to spend on other people. At the day's end, the
happiest people were those assigned to the spend-it-on-others condition thus showing giving
increases happiness
What are social norms? (LO#3) - Answer The ought to's of our lives; social expectations that
prescribe proper behavior
What is the reciprocity norm? (LO#3) - Answer We help those who have helped us; we
"invest" in others and expect dividends
Give a real life example of the reciprocity norm. (LO#3) - Answer Neighbors keeping an eye
out on each other's homes
What is the Social-Responsibility Norm? (LO#3) - Answer We help those in need without
expecting anything in return
How does our response to a need differ between what we attribute it to? (LO#3) - Answer If
we attribute the need to an uncontrollable predicament (external factor), we feel sympathy
towards the person we help
If we attribute the need to the person's choice (internal factor), we tend to not feel sympathy
and do not help; we're more likely to say it's the person's fault
What are gender norms in regards to helping? (LO#3) - Answer Women help men and
women equally; whereas, men are more likely to help women rather than other men (possibly
due to mating habits)
Women are also more likely to seek help and receive help
Solved Solutions.
What is altruism? (LO#1) - Answer A motive to increase another's welfare without conscious
regard for one's self-interests
What characterizes an altruistic person? (LO#1) - Answer Someone who is concerned and
helpful even when no benefits are offered or expected in return
Describe empathy-based altruism. (LO#1) - Answer When their empathy is aroused, people
will help; even when their help is anonymous or will not impact their mood
Who do we most feel empathy towards? (LO#1) - Answer Those with whom we identify and
are exposed to
Example: Millions of people cried when England's Princess Diana died, but none shed tears for
the 1 million faceless Rwandans murdered since 1994
What is the Social Exchange Theory? (LO#2) - Answer The theory that human interactions
are transactions that aim to maximize one's rewards and minimize one's costs; people help
because it can be personally rewarding
What does the Social Exchange Theory imply? (LO#2) - Answer That helpful acts are never
truly altruistic; they are motivated by egoism
Egoism (LO#2) - Answer A motive (supposedly underlying all behavior) to increase one's own
welfare; the opposite of altruism
What is the "formula" for the Social Exchange Theory? (LO#2) - Answer Rewards - Costs =
Profit
Give an example from the book of the Social Exchange Theory. (LO#2) - Answer When asked
to participate in a blood drive, you might implicitly weigh the costs of donating (needle prick,
time, fatigue) against those of not donating (guilt, disapproval) and also weigh the benefits of
donating (feeling good about helping someone, free T-shirt) against those of not donating
(saving the time, discomfort and anxiety)
What is an internal reason why we may help? (LO#2) - Answer Bad feelings can lead to
increased helping
, In what situations would bad feelings lead to an increase in helping? (LO#2) - Answer
Distress- we may help those in distress in order to reduce our own distress
Guilt- people are more likely to do good after behaving badly; restore a shaken self-image
Bad feelings usually lead to increased helping, EXCEPT when: (LO#2) - Answer Depression
and grief can lead to self-preoccupation that decreases helping
Explain how when we feel good, we tend to do good. (LO#2) - Answer Happy people are
helpful people; a positive mood is, in turn, conductive to positive thoughts and positive self-
esteem, which predisposes us to positive behavior
Give an example of how good feelings can also increase helping. (LO#2) - Answer In an
experiment, people received an envelope with cash that some were instructed to spend on
themselves, while others were instructed to spend on other people. At the day's end, the
happiest people were those assigned to the spend-it-on-others condition thus showing giving
increases happiness
What are social norms? (LO#3) - Answer The ought to's of our lives; social expectations that
prescribe proper behavior
What is the reciprocity norm? (LO#3) - Answer We help those who have helped us; we
"invest" in others and expect dividends
Give a real life example of the reciprocity norm. (LO#3) - Answer Neighbors keeping an eye
out on each other's homes
What is the Social-Responsibility Norm? (LO#3) - Answer We help those in need without
expecting anything in return
How does our response to a need differ between what we attribute it to? (LO#3) - Answer If
we attribute the need to an uncontrollable predicament (external factor), we feel sympathy
towards the person we help
If we attribute the need to the person's choice (internal factor), we tend to not feel sympathy
and do not help; we're more likely to say it's the person's fault
What are gender norms in regards to helping? (LO#3) - Answer Women help men and
women equally; whereas, men are more likely to help women rather than other men (possibly
due to mating habits)
Women are also more likely to seek help and receive help
