Jeremiah's Dilemma: A Study of Negative State Relief Model

Understanding Jeremiah's Decision

Jeremiah finds himself in a tough situation when he learns that his roommate Hank is facing financial difficulties and cannot afford to pay his rent this month. Despite knowing that Hank's financial problem is not his responsibility, Jeremiah decides to step in and pay Hank's rent. The reason behind Jeremiah's decision is rather intriguing.

Jeremiah knows that he is not obligated to help Hank with his rent, but he also knows that turning Hank down will make him feel guilty and sad. In order to avoid these negative emotions, Jeremiah chooses to pay Hank's rent. This begs the question: What motivates Jeremiah to act in this manner?

The Negative State Relief Model

Negative state relief (NSR) model provides us with a possible explanation for Jeremiah's behavior. The NSR model suggests that individuals are more likely to help others when they themselves are feeling sad or guilty. In Jeremiah's case, his decision to pay Hank's rent is driven by a desire to alleviate his own negative emotional state, rather than solely out of altruism.

According to the NSR model, people who are in a state of sadness or anxiety about feeling sad are more inclined to engage in helping behaviors to mitigate those negative feelings. Jeremiah's willingness to help Hank can be attributed to his own fear of feeling guilty or regretful if he were to refuse assistance.

Conclusion

Jeremiah's dilemma sheds light on the complexities of human behavior and the role that emotions play in decision-making. By applying the concept of negative state relief, we can better understand why individuals sometimes choose to help others, not out of pure altruism, but as a way to alleviate their own negative emotions.

Jeremiah's decision to pay Hank's rent is based on the ________ model.

Negative state relief (model).