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The Psychology of Helping

Module description

Humans are social animals – we depend on the help of others. And we ourselves often have the tough choice between acting in our own self-interest or in the interest of others. In this module, we look at the psychological underpinning of helping behaviour. Why do we help others, given that it costs us resources or time? When do we help others – how does the social situation determine helping? Who gets our help and who does not? What are the positive sides of helping and what are potential negative effects? We look at these questions, relying both on classic work and on new developments in psychological research. The content will be presented in interactive lectures, and in Question & Answer sessions.

Module aims - intentions of the module

In this module, we will take a broad approach to different facets of helping behaviour. Our aim will be to discover the fundamental processes that guide our behaviour in the social context. With that, the module will allow you to study a basic question about human nature.

Through attending the seminar sessions and studying the provided course materials, you will develop your ability to:

• think rationally and develop reasoned arguments
• approach and solve problems in a rigorous and systematic way
• develop your own ideas with confidence
• develop interdisciplinary skills (learn how other disciplines like philosophy can inform social psychology, and vice versa)
• manage structure (identifying key demands of the task, setting clearly defined goals, responding appropriately to priorities)
• develop time management skills

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Describe when and why people help each other
• 2. Understand underlying psychological processes driving helping behaviour (and the lack of helping)
• 3. Contrast traditional and new approaches in the research on helping behaviour

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. Acquire detailed, systematic and comprehensive knowledge within the discipline, with in-depth specialisation at the forefront of the discipline in certain areas, and demonstrate advanced critical understanding of this knowledge and of the limits and provisional nature of this knowledge
• 5. Review and critically evaluate research and identify the strengths and weaknesses of this work and structure this literature to present logical, coherent and sustained arguments to support conclusions at an advanced level
• 6. Address systematically complex problems which may be framed within unpredictable contexts, think critically, creatively, and independently and fully appreciate the complexities of the issues at an advanced level
• 7. Understand and apply essential principles in designing novel research, critically evaluate and analyse empirical evidence and assess the reliability of empirical evidence using a range of defined techniques at an advanced level

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 8. Select and manage information, and undertake competently study tasks with minimum guidance
• 9. Produce detailed and coherent written work
• 10. Manage time effectively to meet deadlines

Syllabus plan

Topics that will be covered include:

• Psychological and evolutionary explanations for helping behaviour
• Situational influences on helping
• Physiological influences on helping
• Effective Altruism
• Helping non-human animals
• Downsides of helping others

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Two assessments are required for this module. Where you have been referred/deferred in the examination you will have the opportunity to take a second examination in the August/September re-assessment period. Where you have been referred/deferred in the essay you will be required to resubmit the essay. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%; deferred marks are not capped.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

There is no need to read any literature before the start of the module – all essential and recommended reading will be provided. In case of interest, introductory reading is:  

• Levine, M., & Manning, R. (2015). Prosocial behaviour. In M. Hewstone, W. Stroebe & K. Jonas (Eds.) An introduction to social psychology (6th ed., pp.309-346). Wiley. ISBN: 978-1-118-82353-8
• Branscombe, N.R., & Baron, R.A. (2017). Prosocial behaviour. In N.R. Branscombe, R.A. Baron (Eds.) Social psychology (14^th ed., pp. 311-338). Pearson. ISBN: 978-1-292-15909-6

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE page: https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=9456

Key words search

Psychology, social psychology, helping, prosociality, altruism