Abstract

Extreme cases of social roles or influences usually need treatment. Such as in the case of social influences and altruism were in the extremes it is necessary to correct behaviors that occur. However, choice is the clear decision maker in determining actions, whether good or bad, correct or incorrect, education needs to be available for people to make the right decision.

Social Influences on Behavior Paper
By examining the basic concepts and of human interaction in social situations and the way behavior changes by examining altruism and social influence we can get a better understanding of these concepts through a psychological perspective. What happens in these situations and if the effects of the situations require treatment or if the behaviors require correcting.
Altruism is “behaving in a way that helps another person with no apparent gain, or with potential cost, to oneself.” (Kowalski, R., & Westen, D., 2009) There are several theories within altruism, there is ethical hedonism, “…asserts that all behavior, no matter how apparently altruistic, is and should be designed to increase one’s own pleasure or reduce one’s own pain.” (Kowalski, R., & Westen, D., 2009) This theory offers that giving money, food, etc. is only done by an individual to compensate for their own sorrow and making themselves feel better. Another theory is reciprocal altruism, “…natural selection favors animals that behave altruistically if the likely benefit to each individual over time exceeds the likely cost to each individual’s reproductive success.” (Kowalski, R., & Westen, D., 2009) This theory is all about being selfish, they more one can get out of something the better off they are in survival. The last theory in altruism is bystander intervention, “a form of altruism involving helping a person in need.” (Kowalski, R., & Westen, D., 2009) This is where someone, a