DOCSLIB.ORG

An Exploratory Study Op Altruism Dissertation

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
An Exploratory Study Op Altruism Dissertation AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OP ALTRUISM DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By SALOMON RETTIG, B.A., M.A. ***** The Ohio State University 1956 Approved by: Adviser Dépirtment of Psychology To My Wife 11 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am happy to express my gratitude to the following people: To: Dr. Julian B. Rotter for his enoouragement and critical supervision of this research; for his most stimulating thinking and his important contribution to the psychological theoretical framework of this study. To; Dr. Robert A. Wherry for his advice on the statistical aspects of this study. To: Dr. Alvin Scodel for his critical review of this study and for his constant guidance and interest throughout my graduate training. To: Dr.Lauren G. Wispe for his support throughout my graduate training. To; Dr. Max Goodson and Dr. H. Gordon Hullfish who were instrumental in providing many of the subjects for this research. To: Dr. Norman Preeberg for his unfailing willingness and assistance in carrying out this research. To: Several teaching assistants for their fine cooperation in the collection of subjects and data. Finally, I wish to express my appreciation to my wife, for whose encouragement, faith, and patience I am deeply grate­ ful. iii TABLE OP CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I INTRODUCTION ................................. 1 II THEORETICAL AND RESEARCH BACKGROUND ............ 3 A. Historical Review ...................... 3 B. Modem Viewpoints ...................... 6 C. Studies In Altruism................... 9 III HYPOTHESES ................................... l6 A. Definition ............................. l6 B. Social Learning Theory ................. l6 C. Measures ....................... 19 D. Hypotheses.......... 21 IV METHODOLOGY......... 23 A. Pretest ............................... 23 B. The Main Experiment .................... 32 C. Specific Hypotheses .................... 37 V RESULTS AND DISCUSSION........................ 39 A. Treatment of D a t a ....... .............. 39 B. Reliability......... 40 C. The Relationship between the Altruism Scale and the Home Background Inventory .......................... 42 D. The Relationship between the Altruism Scale and the Behavioral Tests........ 48 E. The Relationship between the'Home Background Inventory and the Behavioral Tests ...... 49 P. Summary of the Results................. 50 G. Discussion of Results .............. 51 VI SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION ................... 60 BIBLIOGRAPHY ..................................... 65 APPENDIX A; 1. Sex, Scores on the Altruism Scale, and Home Background Categories, of Sample I ............. 69 2. Sex, Scores on the Altruism Scale, and Home Background Categories, of Sample II ........................... 77 Iv V TABLE OP CONTENTS (CONTINUED) CHAPTER PAGE 3. Sex, Scores on the Altruism Scale, and Home Background Categories, of Sample III ................. 81 APPENDIX B; 1. The Test Booklet .................... 83 2. Home Background Categories .......... 91 3. Slgn-up Sheet ....................... 95 APPENDIX C: The Extended P-scale .................... 96 LIST OP TABLES TABLE PAGE 1. PRODUCT MOMENT CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS BETWEEN EACH ALTRUISM SCALE SITUATION AND THE TOTAL ALTRUISM SCALE SCORE, AND BISERIAL CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS BETWEEN EACH SITUATION AND VOLUN­ TEERS AND NON-VOLUNTEERS ON THE QUESTIONNAIRE TEST (PRETEST) .............................. 29 2. PRODUCT MOMENT CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS BETWEEN THE TWELVE-ITEM ALTRUISM SCALE AND THE MAJOR CATEGORIES OF THE HOME BACKGROUND INVENTORY (PRETEST) ................................... 30 3. DIFFERENCES OF MEANS OF THE MAJOR HOME BACK­ GROUND CATEGORIES BETWEEN THE VOLUNTEERS AND NON-VOLUNTEERS ON THE QUESTIONNAIRE TEST (PRETEST) ................................... 31 4. SEX DIFFERENCES OF MEANS OF THE ALTRUISM SCALE IN THE THREE SAMPLES........................ 40 5. KUDER-RICHARDSON RELIABILITY CORRELATION CO­ EFFICIENTS OF THE HOME BACKGROUND CATEGORIES (SAMPLE I) .................................. 41 6. CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS BETWEEN THE ALTRUISM SCALE AND MAJOR HOME BACKGROUND CATEGORIES OF SAMPLE I ........... 42 7. CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS BETWEEN THE ALTRUISM SCALE AND MINOR HOME BACKGROUND CATEGORIES OF SAMPLE I .................................... , 42 8. CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS BETWEEN THE ALTRUISM SCALE AND MAJOR HOME BACKGROUND CATEGORIES ACCORDING TO SEX (SAMPLE I) ............ 43 9. CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS BETWEEN THE ALTRUISM SCALE AND MINOR HOME BACKGROUND CATEGORIES ACCORDING TO SEX (SAMPLE l) ............ 43 10. CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS BETWEENIOHE ALTRUISM SCALE AND MAJOR HOME BACKGROUND CATEGORIES OF SAMPLE I I ................................... 44 11. CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS BETWEEN THE ALTRUISM SCALE AND MINOR HOME BACKGROUND CATEGORIES OF SAI4PLE II ................................... 44 Vi vil LIST OF TABLES (CONTINUED) TABLE PAGE 12. CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS BETWEEN THE ALTRUISM SCALE AND MAJOR HOME BACKGROUND CATEGORIES ACCORDING TO SEX (SAMPLE II) .................. 45 13. CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS BETWEEN THE ALTRUISM SCALE AND MINOR HOME BACKGROUND CATEGORIES ACCORDING TO SEX (SAMPLE II) ............... 45 14. CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS BETWEEN THE ALTRUISM SCALE AND MAJOR HOME BACKGROUND CATEGORIES OF SAMPLE III .............................. 46 15. CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS BETWEEN THE ALTRUISM SCALE AND MINOR HOME BACKGROUND CATEGORIES OF SAMPLE III ....................... 46 16. CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS BETWEEN THE ALTRUISM SCALE AND MAJOR HOME BACKGROUND CATEGORIES ACCORDING TO SEX (SAMPLE III) ............... 4? 17. CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS BETWEEN THE ALTRUISM SCALE AND MINOR HOME BACKGROUND CATEGORIES ACCORDING TO SEX (SAMPLE III) ............... 4? 18. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DIFFERENCES OF MEANS OF THE ALTRUISM SCALE BETWEEN VOLUNTEERS AND NON- VOLUNTEERS ON THE BLIND STUDENT TEST (SAMPLES I AND II) .................................. 48 19. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DIFFERENCES OF MEANS OF THE ALTRUISM SCALE BETWEEN VOLUNTEERS AND NON­ VOLUNTEERS ON THE QUESTIONNAIRE TEST (SAMPLE I) 48 20. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DIFFERENCES OF MEANS OF THE MAJOR HOME BACKGROUND CATEGORIES BETWEEN VOLUNTEERS AND NON-VOLUNTEERS ON THE QUESTION­ NAIRE TEST (SAMPLE l) ...................... 49 21. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DIFFERENCES OF MEANS OF THE MAJOR HOME BACKGROUND CATEGORIES BETWEEN VOLUNTEERS AND NON-VOLUNTEERS ON THE BLIND STUDENT. TEST (SAMPLE l) .................... 49 22. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DIFFERENCES OF MEANS OF THE MAJOR HOME BACKGROUND CATEGORIES BETWEEN VOLUNTEERS AND NON-VOLUNTEERS ON THE BLIND STUDENT TEST (SAMPLE II) ................... 50 AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OP ALTRUISM CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Among the various types of human behavior of interest to the psychologist is the problem of man's relationship to man. Of the many forms that this relationship may take, one in particular seems of utmost necessity to the existence of man, namely the relationship which is characterized by the mutual aid that men give each other. Man all over the world is gregarious. Hence, it would seem sound to assume that the association with other men is not accidental and that it must be of great value to every human being for otherwise man would live in isolation. The expression of the relationship of mutual aid may differ from society to society, and from individual to individual. This expression is a function of the particu­ lar cultural system, the specific time and the specific situation in which an individual may find himself. The form of this expression may vary anywhere from that of inten­ tional mutual benefit to that of the administration of help without the clear awareness of any specific gain. Tradi­ tionally, we refer to the former as cooperation and to the latter as altruism. It is with the latter that this investigation is concerned. 1 2 The Investigation of the existence of altruism, the antecedent conditions which make for it, and the frequency of its occurrence, are some of the questions with which the author confronted himself. Because of the complexity of the topic under investigation, this study could only be exploratory in nature. Yet because of the many important implications attached to the notion of altruism, and the scarcity of experimental evidence, it was felt that even an exploration of this topic may be of some value in the pre­ diction of human behavior. Some of the psychological theoretical frameworks will be reviewed with particular focus on learning theory, and some of the experimental findings will be cited. In reading the following study it would be helpful to bear in mind that the interest of this investigation is focused upon altruistic behavior rather than cooperative behavior and that the purpose of this discussion is psychological rather than ethical in nature. The concern is primarily with what man does, not with what man ought to do. CHAPTER 2 THEORETICAL AND RESEARCH BACKGROUND A. HISTORICAL REVIEW Although philanthropy is a Greek word, it is not a Greek idea. The concept of altruism did not originate in Greek civilization. "The thought of whole-hearted giving without correspondent personal gain would have puzzled a Greek" (25, p.2). The roots of the concept of altruism in the Western mind probably lie in the Old and later the New Testament. The Hebrew notion of "love thy neighbor as thyself" (Leviticus, 19, 18) corresponds closely to the notion of "love your enemies" (St. Matthew, 5, 44) in the New Testament. Prom here on the belief in the love of our
Load more

Recommended publications
  • CONFERENCE AT-A-GLANCE THURSDAY, APRIL 12 3:00 P.M
    Conference Schedule CONFERENCE AT-A-GLANCE THURSDAY, APRIL 12 3:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Registration Narragansett Pre-Function 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. The NRHC Game Night Providence Ballroom 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Big Picture Discussion Bristol/Kent FRIDAY, APRIL 13 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Registration Narragansett Pre-Function 9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. City as Text Intro and Speaker Narragansett Ballroom 10:00 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. City as Text Providence 3:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. City as Text Reflection Narragansett Ballroom 5:00 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. Graduate and Transfer Fair Waterplace Ballroom 6:00 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. Student Art Show Waterplace Ballroom 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Banquet Narragansett Ballroom 9:30 p.m. - midnight Open Mic Night Narragansett Ballroom SATURDAY, APRIL 14 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast Narragansett Ballroom 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Poster Session I Narragansett Ballroom 7:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Registration Narragansett Pre-Function 9:05 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. Session I Papers and Roundtables Breakout Rooms 10:35 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. Session II Papers and Roundtables Breakout Rooms 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Presidential Lunch and Address Narragansett Ballroom 1:40 p.m. - 2:55 p.m. Session III Papers and Roundtables Breakout Rooms 3:10 p.m. - 4:25 p.m.
    [Show full text]
  • Altruism Researchers Must Cooperate Biologists Studying the Evolution of Social Behaviour Are at Loggerheads
    COMMENT PHYSICS How the media COLLECTIVES Leadership EXHIBITION New show EVOLUTION Responses to misconstrued Steven tips learned from house- highlights 300 years of recent reappraisal of kin Hawking’s latest book p.657 hunting bees p.658 science in Berlin p.660 selection p.661 Altruism researchers must cooperate Biologists studying the evolution of social behaviour are at loggerheads. The disputes — mainly over methods — are holding back the field, says Samir Okasha. ast month, 30 leading evolutionary now calling for a radical rethink, arguing that I contend that there is little to argue about. biologists met in Amsterdam to discuss kin selection is theoretically problematic, and Much of the current antagonism stems a burgeoning controversy. The question has insufficient empirical support, and that from the fact that different researchers are PARKINS D. Lof how altruistic behaviour can arise through alternative models better account for the evo- focusing on different aspects of the same phe- natural selection, once regarded as settled, is lution of social behaviour2. Others regard kin nomenon, and are using different methods. In again the subject of heated debate. selection as solid, and the rethink as unneces- allowing a plurality of approaches — a healthy The question dividing biologists is the sary and potentially retrograde. thing in science — to descend into tribal- degree to which inclusive fitness theory, or kin Rival camps have emerged, each endors- ism, biologists risk causing serious damage selection, explains the evolution of altruism ing a different approach to social evolution. to the field of social evolution, and potentially — in which an animal provides a benefit to Heated exchanges have occurred at confer- to evolutionary biology in general.
    [Show full text]
  • Empathy in Elephants
    Do elephants show empathy? Article (Accepted Version) Bates, Lucy A, Lee, Phyllis C, Njiraini, Norah, Poole, Joyce H, Sayialel, Katito, Sayialel, Soila, Moss, Cynthia J and Byrne, Richard W (2008) Do elephants show empathy? Journal of Consciousness Studies, 15 (10-11). pp. 204-225. ISSN 1355-8250 This version is available from Sussex Research Online: http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/81549/ This document is made available in accordance with publisher policies and may differ from the published version or from the version of record. If you wish to cite this item you are advised to consult the publisher’s version. Please see the URL above for details on accessing the published version. Copyright and reuse: Sussex Research Online is a digital repository of the research output of the University. Copyright and all moral rights to the version of the paper presented here belong to the individual author(s) and/or other copyright owners. To the extent reasonable and practicable, the material made available in SRO has been checked for eligibility before being made available. Copies of full text items generally can be reproduced, displayed or performed and given to third parties in any format or medium for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-profit purposes without prior permission or charge, provided that the authors, title and full bibliographic details are credited, a hyperlink and/or URL is given for the original metadata page and the content is not changed in any way. http://sro.sussex.ac.uk Do elephants show empathy? Lucy A. Bates1, Phyllis C.
    [Show full text]
  • Lecture 16 Kin Selection Challenges to Natural Selection
    Lecture 16 Kin selection Challenges to Natural selection: Sexual Selection Kin Selection Types of social interactions Types of social interactions “Actor” → “Recipient” Actor benefits Actor harmed Types of social interactions “Actor” → “Recipient” Actor benefits Actor harmed Recipient benefits Recipient harmed Types of social interactions “Actor” → “Recipient” Actor benefits Actor harmed Recipient Cooperative benefits Recipient harmed Types of social interactions “Actor” → “Recipient” Actor benefits Actor harmed Recipient Cooperative Altruistic benefits Recipient harmed Types of social interactions “Actor” → “Recipient” Actor benefits Actor harmed Recipient Cooperative Altruistic benefits Recipient Selfish harmed Types of social interactions “Actor” → “Recipient” Actor benefits Actor harmed Recipient Cooperative Altruistic benefits Recipient Selfish Spiteful harmed The evolution of altruism The evolution of altruism • an altruistic act benefits a recipient at a cost to the actor The evolution of altruism • an altruistic act benefits a recipient at a cost to the actor • how can altruistic behaviors evolve? The evolution of altruism • an altruistic act benefits a recipient at a cost to the actor • how can altruistic behaviors evolve? let B = benefit to recipient (surviving offspring) The evolution of altruism • an altruistic act benefits a recipient at a cost to the actor • how can altruistic behaviors evolve? let B = benefit to recipient let C = cost to actor The evolution of altruism • an altruistic act benefits a recipient at a cost
    [Show full text]
  • Reciprocal Altruism: the Effect of Self-Esteem and Anticipation of Face-To-Face (NJ Interaction on Reciprocation
    DOCUMENT RESUME ED 055 284 CG 006 614 AUTHOR Gregor, Gary L.; Conner, Hubert TITLE Peciprocal Altruism: The Effect ofSelf-Esteem and Anticipation of Face-to-Face Interaction on Reciprocation. INSTITUTION Utah Univ., Salt Lake City. PUB DATE Apr 71 NoTE 18p.; Paper presented at Annual Conventionof the Western Psychological Association, SanFrancisco, Calif., April 21-24, 1971 EDRS PRICE MF-$0.65 HC-$3.29 DESCRIPTORS *Behavior; Behavior Patterns; BehaviorTheories; Interaction; *Interpersonal Relationship;Motivation; Personality; *Rewards; *Sanctions; *Self Esteem;Self Evaluation ABSTRACT The study attempts to measure theeffects of self-esteem and face-to-face interaction on aperson's giving behavior (altruism). Seventy-two introductorypsychology students were paired on a task whichrequired that one of each pair become "indebted" to the other. Their roles werethen reversed, and data was r:ollected to see if the debtor-turned-creditor gaveback more than he had received (reciprocal altruism). Thetheoretical bases, procedures, and variable manipulations aredescribed in detail. A major finding of the study is the negativecorrelation between self-esteem and reciprocation. That is, personswith high self-esteem reciprocated )-ss than those with lower self-esteem.Two possible interpretatiorw are offered. It is also reportedthat, where subjects anticipated face-to-face confrontation withthe other member of their pair, they were more likely to reciprocate.Overall, a cynical interpretation of this finding is favored by theauthors: in the absence of a threat to punishment, onedoesn't repay his debts unless he must face his creditor. (TL) (Paper 1)resented at the Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association, 1871) -4- CO Reciprocal Altruism: the effect of self-esteem and anticipation of face-to-face (NJ interaction on reciprocation.
    [Show full text]
  • A Critical Companion to Zoosemiotics BIOSEMIOTICS
    A Critical Companion to Zoosemiotics BIOSEMIOTICS VOLUME 5 Series Editors Marcello Barbieri Professor of Embryology University of Ferrara, Italy President Italian Association for Theoretical Biology Editor-in-Chief Biosemiotics Jesper Hoffmeyer Associate Professor in Biochemistry University of Copenhagen President International Society for Biosemiotic Studies Aims and Scope of the Series Combining research approaches from biology, philosophy and linguistics, the emerging field of biosemi- otics proposes that animals, plants and single cells all engage insemiosis – the conversion of physical signals into conventional signs. This has important implications and applications for issues ranging from natural selection to animal behaviour and human psychology, leaving biosemiotics at the cutting edge of the research on the fundamentals of life. The Springer book series Biosemiotics draws together contributions from leading players in international biosemiotics, producing an unparalleled series that will appeal to all those interested in the origins and evolution of life, including molecular and evolutionary biologists, ecologists, anthropologists, psychol- ogists, philosophers and historians of science, linguists, semioticians and researchers in artificial life, information theory and communication technology. For further volumes: http://www.springer.com/series/7710 Dario Martinelli A Critical Companion to Zoosemiotics People, Paths, Ideas 123 Dario Martinelli University of Helsinki Institute of Art Research Faculty of Arts PL 35 (Vironkatu 1)
    [Show full text]
  • How the “Truth” Self Relates to Altruism: When Your Problem Is Mine
    Social Cognition, Vol. 35, No. 2, 2017, pp. 204–226 CORNWELL ET AL. HOW THE “TRUTH” SELF RELATES TO ALTRUISM HOW THE “TRUTH” SELF RELATES TO ALTRUISM: WHEN YOUR PROBLEM IS MINE James F. M. Cornwell United States Military Academy, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership, West Point, NY; Columbia University, Department of Psychology, New York Becca Franks University of British Columbia, Animal Welfare Program, Vancouver, BC E. Tory Higgins Columbia University, Department of Psychology, New York It has been argued that the phenomenal self sees the world from an “ego- centric” perspective. But then how do we explain why people give up their own time and resources on behalf of others? We propose that one answer to this question can be found in people’s subjective experience of motiva- tion to establishing what’s real—the phenomenal “truth” self. In seeking the truth, people want to establish not only what is correct and real but also what is right, including morally right. We propose that the experience of being effective in figuring things out and solving problems relates positively to solving others’ problems as well; that is, altruistic behaviors that help others. In support of this proposal, we touch upon ethical theories in phi- losophy and religion that have drawn the connection between seeking the truth and being moral, and we review research in comparative and social psychology suggesting how experiencing a “truth” self would support help- ing others. We also report two empirical studies demonstrating the unique relation between the subjective experience of effectiveness in pursuing the truth, particularly an affinity for solving puzzles or problems, and behaving altruistically by helping others to solve their problems.
    [Show full text]
  • Altruism an Evolutionary Pathway.A Review on The
    ALTRUISM AN EVOLUTIONARY PATHWAY.A REVIEW ON THE EVOLUTION OF ALTRUISTIC BEHAVIOR Thiago Perez Bernardes de Moraes The author is political scientist and researcher in the area of social psychology by Universidad Argentina John F. Kennedy Felipe dos Santos Millani The author is a biologist and master in philosophy of mind by Pontifíca Univerdidade Católica do Paraná ([email protected]) Summary: I. Introduction. II. Altruistic adaptive behavior in animals and Humans. III. Altruism an adaptive solution. III.1. Kin selection. III.2. Reciprocal altruism. III.3. Fitness indicator theory. IV. Conclusion. V. References. Recibido: 06/05/2014 Aceptado: 01/06/2014 Revista de la Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Jurídicas de Elche Volumen I – Número 10 – Julio de 2014 – págs. 65-82 - ISSN: 1886-6611 ALTRUISM AN EVOLUTIONARY PATHWAY.A REVIEW ON THE EVOLUTION OF ALTRUISTIC BEHAVIOR Summary: I. Introduction. II. Altruistic adaptive behavior in animals and Humans. III. Altruism an adaptive solution. III.1. Kin selection. III.2. Reciprocal altruism. III.3. Fitness indicator theory. IV. Conclusion. V. References. Abstract: Since the brave attempts to bring Biology to the center of the social sciences discourse, by Edward Wilson and Richard Dawkins with their books Sociobiology and The Selfish Gene, more than forty years ago, Biology has gained recognition as one of the, if not the, main area in the search for human behavior understanding. Disciplines such as behavioral genetics, cognitive neuroscience, and evolutionary psychology among others have been brought to the center of the spectacle in the quest for the understanding of the mind and the influence of those areas is growing every day.
    [Show full text]
  • The Evolution of Eusociality
    Vol 466j26 August 2010jdoi:10.1038/nature09205 ANALYSIS The evolution of eusociality Martin A. Nowak1, Corina E. Tarnita1 & Edward O. Wilson2 Eusociality, in which some individuals reduce their own lifetime reproductive potential to raise the offspring of others, underlies the most advanced forms of social organization and the ecologically dominant role of social insects and humans. For the past four decades kin selection theory, based on the concept of inclusive fitness, has been the major theoretical attempt to explain the evolution of eusociality. Here we show the limitations of this approach. We argue that standard natural selection theory in the context of precise models of population structure represents a simpler and superior approach, allows the evaluation of multiple competing hypotheses, and provides an exact framework for interpreting empirical observations. or most of the past half century, much of sociobiological greater than two times the cost to the altruist (R 5 1/2) or eight times theory has focused on the phenomenon called eusociality, in the case of a first cousin (R 5 1/8). where adult members are divided into reproductive and (par- Due to its originality and seeming explanatory power, kin selection F tially) non-reproductive castes and the latter care for the came to be widely accepted as a cornerstone of sociobiological theory. young. How can genetically prescribed selfless behaviour arise by Yet it was not the concept itself in its abstract form that first earned natural selection, which is seemingly its antithesis? This problem favour, but the consequence suggested by Hamilton that came to has vexed biologists since Darwin, who in The Origin of Species be called the ‘‘haplodiploid hypothesis.’’ Haplodiploidy is the sex- declared the paradox—in particular displayed by ants—to be the determining mechanism in which fertilized eggs become females, and most important challenge to his theory.
    [Show full text]
  • CONFERENCE AT-A-GLANCE THURSDAY, APRIL 12 3:00 P.M
    Conference Schedule CONFERENCE AT-A-GLANCE THURSDAY, APRIL 12 3:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Registration Narragansett Pre-Function 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. The NRHC Game Night Providence Ballroom 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Big Picture Discussion Bristol/Kent FRIDAY, APRIL 13 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Registration Narragansett Pre-Function 9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. City as Text Introduction and Speaker Narragansett Ballroom 10:00 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. City as Text Providence 3:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. City as Text Reflection Narragansett Ballroom 5:00 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. Graduate and Transfer Fair Waterplace Ballroom 6:00 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. Student Art Show Waterplace Ballroom 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Banquet Narragansett Ballroom 9:30 p.m. - midnight Open Mic Night Narragansett Ballroom SATURDAY, APRIL 14 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast Narragansett Ballroom 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Poster Session I Narragansett Ballroom 7:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Registration Narragansett Pre-Function 9:05 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. Session I Papers and Roundtables Breakout Rooms 10:35 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. Session II Papers and Roundtables Breakout Rooms 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Presidential Lunch and Address Narragansett Ballroom 1:40 p.m. - 2:55 p.m. Session III Papers and Roundtables Breakout Rooms 3:10 p.m. - 4:25 p.m.
    [Show full text]
  • Altruism: a Natural Thought History of an Idea
    Altruism: A Natural Thought History of an Idea Caroline Golub Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Prerequisite for Honors in Sociology April 2014 © 2014 Caroline Golub ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Writing this thesis has been an incredibly long and illuminating journey. I have learned so much and had the wonderful opportunity to really delve into and analyze different theories of altruism, enhancing my sociological background, and performing close textual analysis, an exercise that I thoroughly enjoy. I would like to thank my advisor Professor Imber, for his enduring patience, encouragement, and guidance throughout this process. Words cannot express what your support has meant to me. I would also like to thank the other department members of my thesis committee, Professor Cushman and Professor Cuba, for the ways in which you both have and continue to inspire me, within and beyond the field of sociology. Finally, thank you to my family and friends, for your endless faith and support. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1: Introduction—The Origins of Altruism 4 Chapter 2: Comte’s Conception 8 Chapter 3: Mill’s and Spencer’s Interpretations 21 Chapter 4: Durkheim’s Altruistic Suicide & Kropotkin’s Mutual Aid 30 Chapter 5: Foray into Contemporary Theory 41 Chapter 6: Diverging Disciplines 46 Chapter 7: Conclusion—Altruism at Work 63 References 68 3 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION—THE ORIGINS OF ALTRUISM What is altruism? It is a term most people have heard of, achieving the rare feat of academic jargon converted to popular vocabulary. But even so, there are a myriad of different interpretations of the word. It seems that most everyone has a sense of what it means, rather than a distinct, unifying definition.
    [Show full text]
  • The Origins of Empathy and Altruism
    WellBeing International WBI Studies Repository 1984 The Origins of Empathy and Altruism Carolyn Zahn-Waxler National Institute of Mental Health Barbara Hollenbeck National Institute of Mental Health Marian Radke-Yarrow National Institute of Mental Health Follow this and additional works at: https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/acwp_habr Part of the Animal Studies Commons, Behavior and Ethology Commons, and the Comparative Psychology Commons Recommended Citation Zahn-Waxler, C., Hollenbeck, B., & Radke-Yarrow, M. (1984). The origins of empathy and altruism. In M.W. Fox & L.D. Mickley (Eds.), Advances in animal welfare science 1984/85 (pp. 21-41). Washington, DC: The Humane Society of the United States. This material is brought to you for free and open access by WellBeing International. It has been accepted for inclusion by an authorized administrator of the WBI Studies Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE ORIGINS OF EMPATHY AND ALTRUISM Carolyn Zahn-Waxler, Barbara Hollenbeck and Marian Radke-Yarrow National Institute of Mental Health Bethesda, MD 20205 Empathy and altruism are most commonly thought of as forms of compassion that human beings express toward one another. However, emotions and behaviors reflecting apparent concern for others occur within other species and across species as well. Although not without controversy, ethologists and sociobiologists (e.g., Wilson 1975) have identified many behaviors in other animals and insects that may be viewed as prosocial or altruistic (e.g., cooperative efforts of bees, warn­ ing calls of many species, rescue behaviors of whales, certain acts of mammalian caregivers toward their young, etc.). There are fewer signs of altruism across species.
    [Show full text]