Final answer:
A person is likely to help others if they are empathetic, as it drives one to connect with and assist others. Altruism and kin selection also explain why people might be compelled to help, while the bystander effect may inhibit action. Moral duty often guides decision-making in helping behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
A person is most likely to help someone else if he or she is empathetic, as empathy allows one to understand and share the feelings of another, compelling them to act and provide assistance. This form of helping behavior can be contrasted with altruism, where individuals may act out of a desire to benefit others without seeking personal gains, even if such actions may come at a significant personal cost. However, the bystander effect can often deter people from assisting, as they may feel that someone else will intervene. That being said, moral reasoning and a sense of duty can override the bystander effect, especially when the person in need is someone known to the helper.
Furthermore, altruistic behavior can extend to one's kin through kin selection, a form of natural selection where helping relatives can improve the survival chances of one's own genes. Finally, people tend to experience a conflict between moral duties, such as the scenario where one must decide between assisting a person in distress and fulfilling an appointment. In these situations, judgment comes into play to determine the actual duty based on pressing needs.