A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

Which of the following best describes the 'helping' behavior measured in the study?

1. Financial donations

2. Physical assistance or verbal support

3. Social media interactions

4. Community organization involvement

The correct answer is: Physical assistance or verbal support

The choice of physical assistance or verbal support effectively encapsulates the essence of 'helping' behavior as measured in psychological studies. This type of behavior refers to actions taken to aid another individual, which can range from directly providing physical help, such as lifting or carrying something for someone, to offering emotional or verbal encouragement and support. Research in psychology emphasizes that helping behavior often manifests in ways that involve direct interaction between the helper and the person receiving assistance. This can include helping someone in distress by offering comforting words or actively assisting in a challenging task. This focus on direct, interpersonal interactions distinguishes it from other forms of helping like financial donations or social media interactions, which do not involve personal engagement to the same degree. While financial donations, social media interactions, and community organization involvement are all forms of prosocial behavior, they do not necessarily capture the interpersonal and immediate nature of 'helping' behavior as defined in psychological studies. Thus, physical assistance or verbal support directly aligns with the operational definition of helping behavior being assessed, making this choice the most accurate representation of what is being measured in the context of the study.