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Access Type
Open Access
Document Type
thesis
Degree Program
Psychology
Degree Name
Thesis (M.S.)
Year Degree Awarded
1973
Abstract
Present day society seems to grow in Complexity without cessation. Psychologists point to this as one element in the growing alienation between people, and as the seed of many unstable relationships between man and his neighbor. One senses a growing distrust among people as exhibited by the phrase, "Don't trust anyone over the age of thirty". And one is horrified at. incidents in which individuals seem blatantly to ignore other persons in dire need of help. Perhaps all of this has given impetus to the recent flurry of psychological research in the areas of both trust and helping behavior. The picture , of course , is not all that bleak. Trust certainly exists between family members, friends, and strangers, too. And helping behavior, although not always making the headlines, is exhibited every day. In fact, if these prosocial attitudes and behaviors ceased to exist, an interdependent society as we know it would inevitably crumble. Psychologists have become intensely interested in just what makes people act benevolently towards, and think kindly of, their fellow man. Perhaps by understanding these intricate and vital human behaviors we ultimately can help sustain and propagate them.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7275/0khw-ws68