Question

You were at work quite late last night organizing some important files. You left the files stacked on your desk for a subordinate to pick up in the morning to deliver right away to an important meeting. When you arrive in the morning you see the subordinate is "picking up" the files, but not as you had intended. The subordinate dropped the files! All your hard work lies in disarray on the floor. The subordinate is hurrying to pick them up and is apologizing profusely. Your thoughts are fleeting between altruism and aggression! To determine which you might choose, answer the following questions:

a. Choose two aversive incidents described in the text that increase aggressive behavior. Explain how those two incidents could very possibly be present in the above description (even though they are not mentioned), and explain how the two incidents could increase your likelihood of being aggressive in the above situation.

b. On the other hand, you might choose to help pick up the papers. Identify three variables given in the above description that research says could increase or decrease your helping behavior. Briefly explain how each might affect your likelihood of helping.

c. Add to the above description to increase the likelihood that you would help. Specifically, change the above description to include three other conditions (beyond those mentioned in Question 16) that research has found would usually increase your helping behavior.

d. Use two of the three theories presented in class on why people sometimes refuse or don't want help to explain why the subordinate might reject your offer of help in the above situation.

Answer 1

Ans a) I have a 5 year old child, I am often confused between altruism and the aggressive behaviour. Whenever my child spills the the water bottle, or creates any mess I turn aggressive over to being altrusive. Another situation can be what my parents do many a times they do for my near and dear ones such as in laws do such taking a thing in different direction that what it should have been.

Ans b) Three variables can be - helping subordinate not telling him to do the task all alone, bringing files along with him, giving positive smile so that he does the job with good confidence. Ans the third even if he drops then aksing him if anything is wrong or not screaming at the person.

Ans c) I told my subordinate we would pickup files tomorrow, I just needed help from him. When I came I said good morning to him with a smile and we started working.

Ans d) People are running their own lives in the head, they are not bothered about what is happening somewhere or how is the other person? People feel that helping is something not their status, they feel that their own status is very good. Even in this subordinate would think why to accept help, hence it is ok to rework and the prove yourself.