Prosocial Behavior
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Monkey Cooperation and Fairness
What would happen when you pay too monkeys unequally? Two Monkeys Were Paid Unequally: Excerpt from Frans de Waal’s TED Talk Frans de Waal explored this in an experiment demonstrating that the concept of fairness exists within monkeys. The video below is a funny look at what can happen when you reward a couple of workers differently. Check out the…
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Pay It Forward The Power of Three
In this trailer for Pay It Forward, one young student devises a plan to pay it forward by offering three people big favors and then have those people help three others. His purpose is to change the world. How does this clip show prosocial behavior? How does it show reciprocity?
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Dilbert Prisoners Dilemma
Arrested for the murder of a fictitious coworker, Dilbert and colleagues face interrogation by the police. Dilbert announces that his knowledge of the prisoner’s dilemma will save him. Define the prisoners dilemma. Is Dilberts explanation correct? How does it work?
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Chris Brown Apology
Chris Brown, famous hip hop singer, apologizes for his attack of girlfriend and fellow hip hop singer, Rihanna. He explains that he has done his best to live in a way that can make others proud of him and says his actions are inexcusable. He mentions that he has been blessed with family, friends, and singing ability and is trying…
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A Lesson in Conformity — Classic Sesame Street
In this classic Sesame Street clip, we are told the story of Stan and Dan. Every time Stan does something new, Dan has to do it as well, because he wants to be just like Stan. One day, Dan decides to go his own way. What might account for such a change? What do you think of Stans decision at…
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Hartford Man Hit by Car and No one Helps
In this silent clip an elderly man gets hit by a car as he is crossing the street. Although there are many passersby in cars and on foot, no one rushes to his aid. A crowd of people gathers on the sidewalk, multiple cars drive past, and only after a full minute do people gather closer to him to see…
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Social Psychology Experiment
This experiment conducted by student Sarah Lisenbe of Mississippi State University, examines conformity to gender roles. She placed common male and female signs on opposite transparent doors instructing people to walk through the correct entrance. This silent clip shows students entering and leaving the building by the doors with their designated sex. Some students seem baffled by the signs, but…
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The Bystander Effect
In this clip the narrator explains the bystander effect and the diffusion of responsibility. Experimenters use the Liverpool Street Station in London to conduct their experiment. A male actor lies on the floor, crumpled in pain. Numerous people walk by as he is on the floor for more than 20 minutes without aid. A female actor lies on the floor…
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The Cult of the Suicide Bomber
This clip from The Cult of the Suicide Bomberв documentary shows suicide bombers at work. Footage of young boys learning about martyrdomв is shown. Tariq Hamid, a suicide bomber, missed his target; although this is true, his family and friends celebrate his death. Why do suicide bombers sacrifice their life so obediently and willingly?
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The Fifth Ape Richard Dawkins
This Richard Dawkins documentary, The Fifth Ape, deals with the philosophical and social ramifications of the theory of evolution. To find out whether sexual selection plays a role for altruism and kindness among humans, he visits women who are looking for sperm donors, as well as a sperm bank manager. One of the sperm banks most popular donors is a…
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Taylor Swift, Kanye West, Beyonce, and the VMAs Full Story
In this video from the 2009 VMAs rapper/producer Kanye West interrupts Taylor Swifts acceptance speech for the best female music video to announce that Beyonces video should have won. This was Swifts first VMA win and she was clearly upset and confused by Wests interruption. When Beyonce wins the VMA for best video of the year she asks Swift to…
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Baby Left in Car Social Experiment
In this social experiment an actor playing the mother leaves her child in the car while shopping. They park the car on a public street in view of passersby. When the researchers notice that people do not stop they play audio of a babys cries to try to get peoples attention. No one has stopped even though it is a…
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New Center at Stanford to Study Brains Role in Compassion, Altruism
William Mobley and Jim Doty describe a new center, CCARE (Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education), at Stanford; its goal is to enhance altruistic behavior by examining altruism in a multidisciplinary fashion. Doty uses the Dalai Lama as an example of someone who has dedicated his life to compassion. They hope to teach compassion to all people. How…
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Reaction to Women Abusing Men in Public
This ABC news experiment shows a woman publicly abusing her boyfriend verbally and physically. In a previous experiment men who abused women in public were confronted by passersby. In this documentation, Carrie Keating explains that men create more damage but women abuse men more often. As the girlfriend beats her boyfriend passersby either do nothing or have interesting reactions. Often,…
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Park Goers Reaction to Interracial Couples Fighting
In this clip an experiment is conducted to show how the public reacts to abuse in a biracial relationship. In the first experiment it is a white boyfriend and African American girlfriend. One male passerby stops but doesnt interfere. Two female passersby lead the girlfriend away from the boyfriend. In the second part of the experiment, they used an African…
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