Describe a time when you helped another person. The role situational factors played in your decision to help. Is this example of helping behavior better explained by the Social Exchange Theory or the Empathy & Altruism theory?

It was a fine morning when I was walking to school on a pedestrian path, and suddenly a stranger’s poach dropped from her pocket. The stranger did not instantly realize this, and it happened that two individuals were closely following her.

The individuals picked up the bag unnoticeably and kept on with the journey as if nothing had happened, but to the stranger’s luck, I saw the individuals pick up the bag. The stranger instinctively realized that she had dropped her bag, which contained the money that his boss, the senior cashier, gave her for the daily transactions. Upon seeing her misfortunes descend on her, I decided to be the fortune of her day.

Given that I had a fear of the unknown and the pressure of running late for my lessons. I decided to act like the boyfriend to the lady. And within the shortest time possible, convinced the three other strangers who were passing by to help us get the money from these two individuals.

The action was motivated by empathy and altruism rather than exchange theory. I tried to imagine myself in that woman’s position and pictured how I would feel and what it would be like at the job. This I did without getting anything in return; it was out of good faith and heart, thus justifying the empathy theory.

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Academic.Tips. (2023) 'Describe a time when you helped another person. The role situational factors played in your decision to help. Is this example of helping behavior better explained by the Social Exchange Theory or the Empathy & Altruism theory'. 9 May.

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Academic.Tips. (2023, May 9). Describe a time when you helped another person. The role situational factors played in your decision to help. Is this example of helping behavior better explained by the Social Exchange Theory or the Empathy & Altruism theory? https://academic.tips/question/describe-a-time-when-you-helped-another-person-the-role-situational-factors-played-in-your-decision-to-help-is-this-example-of-helping-behavior-better-explained-by-the-social-exchange-theory-or-the/

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Academic.Tips. 2023. "Describe a time when you helped another person. The role situational factors played in your decision to help. Is this example of helping behavior better explained by the Social Exchange Theory or the Empathy & Altruism theory?" May 9, 2023. https://academic.tips/question/describe-a-time-when-you-helped-another-person-the-role-situational-factors-played-in-your-decision-to-help-is-this-example-of-helping-behavior-better-explained-by-the-social-exchange-theory-or-the/.

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Academic.Tips. "Describe a time when you helped another person. The role situational factors played in your decision to help. Is this example of helping behavior better explained by the Social Exchange Theory or the Empathy & Altruism theory?" May 9, 2023. https://academic.tips/question/describe-a-time-when-you-helped-another-person-the-role-situational-factors-played-in-your-decision-to-help-is-this-example-of-helping-behavior-better-explained-by-the-social-exchange-theory-or-the/.

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