Piliavin (psyhcology being investigated)

Question 1

What is the aim of the study?

Answer 1

• To investigate bystander behaviour in a natural setting.
• To investigate the effect of 4 situational varibles on helping behaviour:
  1.Type of victim
  2.Race of victim
  3.Behaviour of a model
  4.The size of the bystander group

Question 2

Define bystander

Answer 2

A person who is present but not directly involved in a situation

Question 3

Define bystander apathy

Answer 3

• When a person does not show concern for a person in need

Question 4

Define diffiusion of responsibility

Answer 4

• When a person is less likely to take responsibility for their actions/inactions when others are presents.
• The more people are present the less likley a person is to help someone in need as they will assume other people around will help.
• Which suggests that responsibility is shared within a group

Question 5

Define modelling

Answer 5

Watching a model performing the desired behaviour

Question 6

Psycholgy being investigated: Bystander effect and diffusion of responsibility

Answer 6

• The study explores the bystander effect which suggests that the presence of bystanders can affect a persons likiihood of helping someone in need.
• It is suggested that this occurs due to the diffusion of responsibillity in which people are less likely to help when other bystanders are present due to a reduced sense of personal responsibiliy.

Question 7

Psychology being investigated: Cost-benift model

Answer 7

• The model explores the decion making process behind helping behaviour where an individual weighs up the potential costs and rewards when deciding to help someone.
• Suggesting that during an emergency situation an individual’s level of arousal increases which prompts the individual to reduce their diffcult feelings either by helping or ignoring the situation.

Arousal- a persons feelings of disgust/aversion/symapthy/ courage
Costs-

Question 8

Psychology being investigated: Modeling and social influence

Answer 8

• The study explores the impact of modeling on helping behaviour.
• Hypothetically, the models presence should increase the likihood of bystander helping

Question 9

What is the backround of the study?

Answer 9

• The study was influenced by the Kitty Genovese case (1964) who was stabbed near her home after work. 38 individuals witnessed the assualt, but did not do anything to prevent her murder.
• Triggered the interest of social psychologists on bystander behavior

Question 10

Good samaritan

Answer 10

A person who helps other expeirncing difficulty