The Social Approach to Understanding Behavior: Chimpanzees and Altruism

Have you ever wondered why people sometimes help others, even if there's no obvious benefit for themselves? This is a question that has fascinated psychologists for decades. One approach to understanding this complex behavior is the Social Approach. It emphasizes the influence of social factors, like our relationships and interactions with others, on our thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Background: Chimpanzees and Altruism

Before diving into the social approach, let's consider a fascinating example: chimpanzees. Previous research suggested that these primates, our closest living relatives, might be capable of altruistic behavior - doing things to help others without expecting anything in return. This discovery sparked excitement among scientists because it challenged the long-held belief that altruism was a uniquely human trait.

The Social Approach: Explaining Altruism

The social approach offers several explanations for altruistic behavior, both in humans and animals:

Reciprocal Altruism:

This theory suggests that we are more likely to help others if we believe they will reciprocate our actions in the future. Imagine two friends helping each other move. Both benefit from the exchange, even though there might be times when one of them contributes more than the other.

Kin Selection:

This theory emphasizes the role of genetic relatedness in altruism. We are more likely to help those who share our genes, such as our siblings or parents. This makes sense from an evolutionary perspective because it increases the chances of our genes being passed on to the next generation.

Empathy:

This theory highlights the importance of feeling another person's emotions. When we empathize with someone in distress, we may be motivated to help them alleviate their suffering, even if it's not directly beneficial to us. For example, seeing someone struggling with their homework can trigger empathy, prompting us to offer assistance.

Social Norms:

This theory argues that societal expectations and norms can influence our behavior. In many cultures, helping those in need is considered a social obligation. Think about volunteering at a soup kitchen or donating to charity. These actions are often motivated by a desire to uphold social expectations and norms.

Real-World Examples

Here are some real-world examples of the social approach in action:

Blood Donations:

Many people donate blood without expecting anything in return, motivated by a combination of empathy, social norms, and perhaps a sense of reciprocal altruism (knowing that others might donate blood to them if they needed it).

Helping a Stranger:

Seeing someone struggling with a heavy bag, or dropping their groceries, might trigger empathy and prompt us to offer assistance. Even though we don't know the person, we might be motivated to help by social norms and a sense of community responsibility.

Online Campaigns:

Online fundraising platforms allow people to contribute to causes they care about. Often, the motivation is empathy for the people involved or a belief in the importance of the cause, even though there's no direct benefit for the donor.

Conclusion

The social approach provides valuable insights into why we engage in altruistic behavior. By understanding the influence of social factors like reciprocity, kinship, empathy, and social norms, we can better grasp the motivations behind our actions and those of others. This knowledge can encourage us to be more empathetic and helpful towards those around us, creating a more compassionate and supportive society.