This involves the non-intervention of bystanders in a critical instance such as injuries, emergencies, or something so minor such as not helping an elderly woman up from a fall. Social psychologists believe the process of decision-making involves split second decisions where we sometime unconsciously consider or weigh our options (Moghaddam,1998, p.301). The decision to help or not is made after doing a cost-benefit analysis of the situation, meaning that someone who helps wants to maximize their reward and minimize their costs. This is an example of the commonly known social exchange theory, where relatively selfish behaviour directly links to universal egotism. .
What are the true intentions of an individual displaying altruistic intention? Situations such as volunteering at and old age home or stopping at the scene of an accident to see if someone needs help, appear to have no direct reward attached to these actions. One might claim that their actions were entirely altruistic and that no reward was expected or wanted, and it might be quite possible that they are telling the truth. We have all been in situations like this. However, how do we know that their intentions were not motivated by self-benefit or by the mere fact of appearing heroic or honourable? The problem lies within the weak definition of altruism. The definition from the Collins Canadian Dictionary states altruism is "acting for the good of others and not for benefiting oneself". Acting for the good of others is generally common, but at the same time universal egotism states that we act out of selfishness to benefit ourselves. So the internal joy that we get from volunteering at and old age home may really be benefiting oneself, in the form of bettering that person's public image. It is most likely that a person may feel that by volunteering and attending to the needs of the elderly is performing a good deed which in turn may take the place of a sin recently committed.
