What is the most significant influence of social heuristics on social roles? Why? Are heuristic strategies more likely than controlled, deliberate self-control in prosocial behaviors? Explain. Are these strategies more likely in situations that require time or money? Why or why not?
Social Heuristics are the mental short cuts which we experience in order to make decisions and judgments in our everyday life. These short cut strategies enable us to shorten the time needed to make decisions; which comes in handy when we have to make quick decisions. If an individual belongs to a culture that emphasizes social cooperation, then the individual is likely to be more helpful without much deliberate and intentional thinking.
If we talk about the social roles being more formal for example, a police officer, the individual in this role would be more deliberate and self-controlled in their behavior as they are responsible for their behaviors and have to answer for their behavior. Whereas the same person in an informal role as a friend or parent would be less deliberate and self-controlled, that is more heuristics informally with their friends and children because of the feeling of belongingness and mutual understanding.
Prosocial behavior is characterized by a concern for the rights, feelings, and welfare of other people. It is basically intended to help other people. These are those cooperative behaviors that are advantageous to individuals in some or the other form. Thus, they are more heuristical than controlled and deliberate in nature. A helping reaction occurs when there is some sort of selfish interest as of morality or give and take, or economic benefit. Thus, they are more intuitive; individuals use their mental short cuts to analyze and act on purpose.
Chances of heuristics strategies in situations that require time or money are less because the intuitive strategies could cause loss to an individual. Hence, they apply deliberate thinking in such circumstances.