| Abstract: | Reviews the book, Altruism and Helping Behavior: Social, Personality and Developmental Perspectives edited by J. Philippe Rushton and Richard M. Sorrentino (1981). The book is divided into seven sections. The first consists of a chapter by the editors which reviews the historical roots of the study of altruistic behaviour. The second part consists of five chapters which examine the development of altruism from a range of perspectives - sociobiological, social learning, and motivational. The third section contains five chapters which review some of the internal mediators posited for prosocial behaviour- role-taking, empathy, personal and social norms, perceptions of justice, and affective arousal. Part four outlines research which bears on individual differences in altruism, with two chapters contributed by the editors. Part five consists of three chapters which review some of the situational constraints on helping behaviour-the inhibitory effects of group size on bystander intervention, the impact of urban density on helping, and the way in which group organization relates to naturalistic helping in children. The sixth section presents two chapters which examine the consequences of helping for both the donors and recipients of help. Finally, part seven consists of a chapter which reviews some of the major themes and issues addressed by the contributors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
