PRO-SOCIAL AND ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR: Factors influencing reluctance to help

Question 1

Aside from then not noticing or interpreting the situation and taking responsibiliy for helping, what 3 factors influence the reluctance to help?

Answer 1

Diffusion of responsibility
Audience inhibitiion
Cost-benefit analysis

Question 2

Define: diffusion of responsibility

Answer 2

The belief that, in a situation where help is required and others are present, responsibility is spread across the whole group, leading each individual to fell less responsible for helping than when alone because they assume that someone else will take on responsibility for helping.

Question 3

Define: audience inhibition

Answer 3

not helping another person because of a fear of appearing foolish in the presence of others.

Question 4

Audience inhibition: how can it influence bystanders?

Answer 4

leads them to keep calm in emergency and to check how others are reacting - may conclude no one is upset, so help is not needed

Question 5

Define: cost-benefit analysis

Answer 5

Weighing up the personal and social disadvantages of helping against the benefits of helping
-if costs outweigh the benefits, we are less likely to help and vice versa