Introduction
The term denoting helping behavior arises from people’s desire to help others, especially those who are in distress due to natural or man-made causes.
The main motives of helping behavior are indeed humane, which may or may not arise from the need for recompense or some material return for the help rendered.
The main aspects of helping behavior are sharing, caring, rescuing, and taking care of weaker or smaller people or living beings.
Egoism as a primary motive
Many theories have been put forth for helping behavior, in terms of it catering to one’s ego satisfaction, self-aggrandizement, or just to gain popularity within the community or social set-up by indulging in voluntary acts, which, prima facie, is intended to be altruistic, voluntary, and designed to serve others.
Many behavioral researchers and others have advocated that egoistic aspects are also very much present in helpful behavior, and they have mentioned that collectivism is another manifestation of egoistic behavior. (Weiner, et al, p. 482).
One may try to benefit groups by the maximum total benefit to self, thus posing to encourage prosocial answers to societal needs.
Research conducted by Dawes, Van De Kragt, Orbell (1990).
However, research conducted by Dawes, Van De Kragt, and Orbell (1990) reverses this, and their findings show that group behavior and egoism are independent aspects. In this study, it is seen that where a choice could hypothetically have to be made between allocating common funds either to themselves or to groups, the following aspects present themselves:
1. When the respondents decide to appropriate funds for themselves, there are utmost individual profits and least group benefits.
When allocations are made to the group, there are maximum collectivism profits and a lower degree of individualist benefits. (Weiner, et al, p. 482).
Thus, it could be seen that by advocating mass traits, the leader is trying to further self-interests through collectivism, whereas, in the case of showing individualistic traits, the leader is hoping to gain mass appeal.
Thus, there are arguments about whether helping behavior, or altruism in its broadest or narrowest sense, stems from self-interest or collectivism.
It is now necessary to consider the depth of helping behavior, or in other words, the factors that goad such kind of behavior, as opposed to others, and how this could be constructively used for human benefits. It is seen that many factors add up to HB, including the need for fulfilling ego, material gains in terms of rewards and recompense, and even the need to retain leadership in a group. Several factors motivate helping behavior, including the fact that what has been deprived of oneself could be gained and fostered through others.
Perceptive differences in helping behavior
Thus, it may be said that in the case of helping behavior, the concept of perception is also very significant. Each of us perceived things in a different light, depending upon our environment, education, attitude to life, genetic factors, extrinsic influences, etc. Thus, it is quite possible that what may seem right for one person may be extremely detested by another. In the case of helping behavior, it is necessary to understand things from the other person’s point of view, the empathetic view.
Thus, by knowing ourselves and our perspectives on different issues, it is possible for us to appreciate the viewpoints of others and find that their reasoning is also genuine, interesting, and absorbing (Howe and Findlay).
Thus, it is through empathy and understanding that helping behavior can be developed and sustained over years of social help and caring for less fortunate people around. In the case of helping behavior, it is necessary not only to help others but also to understand the aspects that govern such help. Furthermore, the element of self-help may or may not contain the elements of reward, which may be present.
Theories of helping behavior
There are several theories propagated for this theory including the ego theory, in that through helping others, people are able to nourish and satiate their egos. In other words, what people seek is to gain hedonistic emotions through serving other people.
The main models of helping could be seen in terms of:
- Cultural moorings of helping behavior
- Economic aspects of helping behavior
- Rural aspects of helping behavior
- Cultural moorings of helping behavior
It is a known fact that the sum total of man’s personality is the cultural background and environmental influences that help mold his mental personality and outlook on life. In the case of people who have been well looked after and come from good backgrounds, these traits are reinforced in their personality and outlook, and they are willing to help less fortunate people who have been deprived of life’s munificence. Although there are exceptions, for the purpose of the current study carried out in terms of altruism, it could be said that, more or less, people from secure backgrounds do tend to be more altruistic and human love than people who may not have been so fortunate. Again, it could also be seen that most people would like to revisit their younger days, and pleasant memories of younger days would enthuse them to feel young, indulge in societal activities, and help others through individual means of collectivist methods. However, while it is quite possible that this may reduce over time, it is also possible that people may indulge in social activities, be gregarious, and help others with attitudes.
Economic behavior aspects
Next, it is necessary to consider economic behavior aspects, which may diverge a lot due to the presence of many intrinsic, external, and internal factors that may impact it. Again, economic behavior can be seen in terms of spending psychology and demand-supply matches or mismatches. It is seen that economic behavior considers many aspects, including spending capacities, cost of living, earnings, and other parameters. In the context of helping, it could be seen in terms of charitable disposition shown by many philanthropic individuals or groups aimed at societal good and development.
The ulterior motive of philanthropic grants may be in terms of business promotional activities aimed at improving product visibility and generating more goodwill that could be translated into more sales at a more appropriate time and place. This stems from the fundamental evidence that all philanthropic, or even collectivism, stems from the aspect of self-centrism, in that it is one’s desire to nourish and sustain one’s own being or egocentric behavior which is also a driving force in helping behavior.
Rural aspects of helping behavior
There are large possibilities of helping behavior not only in urban settings but also in rural scenarios, where problems are more endemic and widespread. Non- availability of infrastructural requirements, like food outlets, good hospitals, and entertainment zones, and large pockets of poverty are also major reasons for helping behavior to be more pronounced in such rural settings. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the helping behavior also in rural settings where the impact and incidence are higher as compared to other settings and scenarios.
There have been quite a few research-based on helping behavior and most have been conclusive about the impact of environment, individualistic patterns, and social footprints in the determination and success of helping behavior. The perceptions have to be taken not only from point of view of the giver, donator, or provider but also in terms of the receiver or beneficiary. This could not only be in terms of satiating needs but also in terms of creating conditions for the social upliftment of the weak, impoverished and downtrodden people of this globe, whether in Africa, Bangladesh or Afghanistan or the remotest corner of the earth, more or less devoid of life except human existence.
Research findings
The conducted research has found and substantiated the fact that often respondents who unintentionally destroy the research data of fellow students experience a sense of remorse, but this negative emotion gets cleared when they receive eulogies for their own achievements and are thus stimulated towards helping behaviour. (Helping Behaviour).
Results show that respondents who have initial feelings of remorse feel more elated than those who had dispassionate feelings. The motivation for helping others, enthused by praise, however, dies down after the appreciation is received (Helping Behaviour).
Element of helping others in behaviour
Moreover, from a strictly altruistic perspective, it is seen that helping behavior should need to consider the fact that different people have different motives and objectives for helping behavior and each case needs to be studied and not compared with others. Thus, it is possible to reach conclusive evidence about helping behavior considering the circumstances of the cases, the views and stands taken by the parties, the motive and underlying causes for helping behavior, and also, most significantly, the attitudes of the helping behavior recipients and the bearing on different aspects of the helping behavior.
Finally, it could be said that research has proved that there are several elements in helping behavior that needs to be assessed, considering the circumstances of the case and the conduct of parties, and thus, it would be incorrect to reach assumptions on just a few postulates. Under such circumstances, it would be necessary to take a total and holistic view of the case and decide according to relevant matters.
Conclusions
This essay has deliberated on the aspects of helping behavior in the context of the various theories that have been raised in societal terms. While each school of thought has its advantages and threats, it could also be seen that over a period of time, the individualistic aspect retains importance and relevance over others. Thus, it could be said that much about helping behavior depends upon the individual himself/herself, their mental attitudes and thinking, and what are the underlying motives that govern their behavior. Again, it is also seen that once the underlying cause for helping behavior has been established it would be clearer as to the motive, objectives, and goals of helping behavior and their impact upon the individual, community, and the local environment and scenario. Studies on helping behavior must consider the psyches of the individuals and community about its goals, objectives, and justifications and act accordingly. Moreover, it is also seen that, when considering helping behavior in a broad sense, it is not only the attitudes of the players that matter but also the societal viewpoint of helping behavior and its outlook and perspective needs that need to be determined.
References
- Helping Behavior. Answers.com. 2009.
- Helping Behavior: Supporting Studies. Answers.com. 2009.
- Howe, Maurie., and Findaly, Anne. Developing Helping Skills. 2nd edition. Aust Council for Ed Research. 2005.
- Weiner, Irving, B., et al. Handbook of Psychology: Personality and Social Psychology/ Theodore Million, Melvin J. Lerner, volume Editors. John Wiley and Sons. 2003.