Levine et al. (2001) Flashcards
What are the 3 main aims of Levine’s study?
- See if helping of strangers varies across cultures
- Identify the characteristics of those communities in which strangers are more/less likely to help
- See if the tendency for people to help depends on the situation
How many countries were used in Levine’s study?
23 countries
Who were the participants in Levine’s study?
Pedestrians walking past the confederates during helping situations.
What were the three helping situations which Levine created in each country?
- Dropped pen
- Hurt leg and drop magazines
- Blind person about to cross a busy street
Describe the ‘dropped pen’ condition and how it was performed.
- Confederates walked at moderate pace (1.5 paces/second)
- When near pedestrian, confederate would accidentally drop pen
- Total of 214 men and 210 women approached
- Participants recorded as having helped if they picked up pen or called confederate to let them know
Describe the ‘hurt leg’ condition and how it was performed.
- Confederate walked with a heavy limp and a leg brace
- Confederate drops magazine and appears to struggle to pick them up when near a pedestrian
- 253 men and 240 women approached
- Participant recorded as having helped if they offered to help or began to help
Describe the ‘blind person’ condition and how it was performed.
- Confederates with dark glasses to pretend to be blind stand at pedestrian crossing with traffic lights
- Confederate would wait until just before the lights turns green, held their cane out and waited for assistance
- 281 trials conducted
- Participants recorded as having helped if, at a minimum, they informed the confederate the light was green
What was the most and least helpful country and what average percentage of help did they have?
- Most helpful - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 93.33% help
- Least helpful - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - 40.33% help
What was the only significant relationship between?
Countries Purchasing Power and overall levels of helping (cities with lower purchasing power help more)
What is meant by purchasing power?
The economic well-being of a country.
Was there a relationship found between gender and helping behaviour?
No.
What is mean by the term simpatia?
Being friendly, nice, agreeable and good-natured is prioritised over achievement and productivity.
What did Levine find about helping behaviour and simpatia?
Countries with simpatia were much more helpful than countries without.
What are the main conclusions of Levine’s study?
- Overall levels of helping across cultures are inversely related to a countries economic productivity.
- Countries with simpatia are more likely to help
