An Analysis of Gender Differences in Prosocial Helping Behavior

This report explores the influence of gender differences on helping behavior, examining whether these differences affect prosocial actions. It reviews existing literature on the bystander effect, diffusion of responsibility, and the relationship between gender and helping behavior. The report aims to determine if substantial behavioral changes occur due to gender differences, to assess awareness of gender bias, and to identify when individuals are more inclined to help, considering the gender of those in need. The research methodology suggests statistical analysis of surveys conducted in modified artificial settings and the potential use of experimental economic games and qualitative data collection through face-to-face interviews. The study concludes by emphasizing the importance of addressing gender bias to understand broader social implications and recommends qualitative evaluation of gender awareness and the impact of cultural factors on helping behaviors.

Running head: ROLE OF GENDER DIFFERENCE IN HELPING BEHAVIOUR
ROLE OF GENDER DIFFERENCE IN HELPING BEHAVIOUR
Name of the Author:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

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ROLE OF GENDER DIFFERENCE IN HELPING BEHAVIOUR
Abstract:
The report will discuss how gender differences affect helping behavior. The report will contain
findings from several surveys that shed light upon the influences on helping behaviors. It will
seek answer to the question ifhelping behaviors change if the other person is of same sex and if
the person is of different sex. The study will facilitate assessment of the gender awareness that
will help us evaluate the general cultural life on a community at a given time.

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ROLE OF GENDER DIFFERENCE IN HELPING BEHAVIOUR
Acknowledgements:

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ROLE OF GENDER DIFFERENCE IN HELPING BEHAVIOUR
Introduction:
Gender difference has its effects on different spheres of social life. Helping or prosocial
behavior is one of the important phenomena of modern human society. Difference in sex and
gender are the key factors that affect situations that require altruistic behavior (Koon, 2013).
Different studies on how men and women act in situations when help to a stranger required
showed different and often contradictory results.
Research objective:
 To find out if there is any substantial changes in behavior pattern due to gender
difference.
 To find out if people are aware of their gender bias.
 To find out when people are more willing to help, in case people of the same sex are at
stake or people of the opposite sex, and how does it vary across genders.
Research questions:
 Is there any kind of substantial change observed in behavioral pattern of the people, due
to gender difference?
 How does helping behavior change if people of the same sex are at stake, and if people of
opposite sex are at stake?
 What roles gender difference play in influencing the helping behavior of an individual?
Literature review:
History of bystander effect: There are several witnesses to a mishap but nobody came forward
to help (Koon, 2013).

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ROLE OF GENDER DIFFERENCE IN HELPING BEHAVIOUR
Diffusion of responsibility: Every other person is thinking that the other person has the
responsibility to take upon his or her own shoulder and simply shirk off the social responsibility
to help the person at stake (Feng et al., 2016).
Relationship between gender and helping behavior: Some studies have shown that there is no
significant difference between men and women in case they are required to help the other person.
There is also gender role model. According to that, male are willing to help when there is
bravery needed, or when chivalry is required (Hupp-Wilds, 2014). Whereas, women engage in
more emotional help, and help that requires understanding of more subtle psychological
complications (Eagly, 2013).
Findings:
Different social experiments in regulated artificial setting will help get the desired results.
Gender bias is as much social as it is cultural. Different cultures have their own understandings
of gender bias. A study that addresses the degree of gender awareness among a social group and
how that is affecting their overall prosocial behavior can also shed light upon other social aspects
of their individual as well as community lifestyle.
Research methodology:
Statistical analysis of different surveys under modified artificial setting, such as
mentioned above, or any other imagined situations, can give desired results concerning the
proposed research objectives. Several experimental economic games like Dictator game, Public
Good Game, Ultimatum Game can be modified and if conducted properly, can give useful results
(Espinosa & Kovářík, 2015). Also, the Qualitative Method of data collection can be used. The
primary data can also be collected by organizing face to face interview with the respondents-
decide who should be your respondents, what is the sample size, and how would you select them.

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ROLE OF GENDER DIFFERENCE IN HELPING BEHAVIOUR
Conclusion:
Addressing issues of gender bias in situations requiring prosocial behavior can facilitate
derivation of further social implications like, the common degree of gender awareness. How the
awareness of gender bias can have its effect on prosocial behavior.
Recommendations:
The study should qualitatively evaluate the gender awareness. It should also focus on
how different cultural factors will affect gender bias and further affect the helping behaviors in
different social situations where people of opposite sex are involved.

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References:
Conrads, J., Irlenbusch, B., Rilke, R. M., & Walkowitz, G. (2013). Lying and team
incentives. Journal of Economic Psychology, 34, 1-7.
Eagly, A. H. (2013). Sex differences in social behavior: A social-role interpretation. Psychology
Press.
Espinosa, M. P., & Kovářík, J. (2015). Prosocial behavior and gender. Frontiers in Behavioral
Neuroscience, 9, 88. http://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00088
Feng, C., Deshpande, G., Liu, C., Gu, R., Luo, Y. J., & Krueger, F. (2016). Diffusion of
responsibility attenuates altruistic punishment: a functional magnetic resonance imaging
effective connectivity study. Human brain mapping, 37(2), 663-677.
Fischer, P., & Greitemeyer, T. (2013). The positive bystander effect: Passive bystanders increase
helping in situations with high expected negative consequences for the helper. The
Journal of social psychology, 153(1), 1-5.
Hupp-Wilds, B. (2014). Gender Roles and Helping Behavior. Columbus: The Ohio State
University.
Koon, J. (2013). Masculinity and bystander helping behavior: A study of the relationship
between conformity to masculine norms and bystander interventions. America:
University of Iowa.