Piliavin Flashcards
What is the area of this study
Social
What is the diffusion of responsibility
Where the responsibility for the situation is spread( diffused) among the people present
This implies the more people present, the more the bystander believes the responsibility is spread out so they feel less personal responsibility therefore and less likely to help
What was the aim of the study
To measure the effect of several variables on helping behaviour in an emergency situation in an underground subway train
Research method
Field experiment
What were the independent variables
1) type of victim( drunk or carrying a cane)
2) Race of victim ( black or white)
3) effect of a model( after 70 or 150 seconds, from the critical or adjacent area), or no model
4) size of the witnessing group ( a naturally occurring independent variable)
What were the dependent variables
( they were recorded by 2 female observers seated in the adjacent area)
1) frequency of help
2) speed of help
3) race of helper
4) movement out of critical area
5) verbal comments by bystanders
Participants
- 4,500 ppts who used the New York subway on weekdays between 11am and 3pm between April 15 and June 26
- Men and women
- 45% black, 55% white
Procedure: how many teams of researchers were there
There were 4 teams of 4 researchers
2 female observers
2 male observers - one acting as a victim, one the model
Describe the ‘victims’
(3 white,1 black)
All male students
Aged 26-35
All dressed alike
How did the victims smell and look like?
They either smelled like liquor and carried a liquor bottle wrapped tightly in a brown bag or appeared sober and carried a black cane
In all aspects they acted identically in both conditions
The modes were all white makes aged 24-29 years. What were the 4 model conditions?
1) critical area - early
Critical area - late
Adjacent area - early
Adjacent area - late
What were the observers instructions
On each trial one observer noted the race, sex and location of ever rider seated or standing in the critical area
She counted the total number of individuals who came to the victims assistance
Results
Overall there was 100% help for the cane compared to 81% help for the drunk victim
The Ill victim received spontaneous help in 95% of tírala the drunk victim in 50% of trials
Conclusions
An individual who appears ill is more likely to receive help than one who appears drunk
Men are more likely than women to help a male victim
People are more likely to help those of the same race as themselves, particularly if they deem the victims situation to be of his own making
