Bystander Apathy and Helping Behavior Study

These flashcards cover key concepts, findings, and ethical considerations from the study of bystander behavior and helping behavior.

What is Bystander Apathy?

The phenomenon where observers of an emergency do not intervene.

What does the term 'Diffusion of Responsibility' mean?

A sociopsychological phenomenon where individuals are less likely to help when others are present because they feel less personally responsible.

What event is famously associated with the study of bystander behavior?

The murder of Kitty Genovese.

What were the aims of the study on bystander behavior?

To study bystander behavior in a realistic setting and to explore the effect of various factors on helping behavior.

What is the research method used in the bystander behavior study?

Field Experiment and Observations.

How many independent variables (IVs) were examined in the study?

Four independent variables.

How was the 'victim's responsibility' operationalized in the study?

By the victim carrying a cane (ill, low responsibility) or smelling of alcohol (drunk, high responsibility).

What was one key finding regarding the effectiveness of bystanders?

78% of victims received spontaneous help.

What was the difference in help received between the cane and drunk victims?

The cane victim received help in 62 out of 65 trials (95%), while the drunk victim was helped in 19 out of 38 trials (50%).

Who were more likely to help the victim?

90% of passengers who helped were male.

What conclusions can be drawn regarding the race of helpers?

Race made no significant difference to helping behavior but there was a slight tendency for same-race helpers.

What model did Piliavin et al. propose to explain people's responses to emergencies?

Cost-Reward Model.

What ethical issue arose from the study?

Informed consent wasn't obtained, and participants were deceived.

What were the strengths of the study?

High ecological validity, large sample size, and behavior observed in a natural environment.

What were the weaknesses of the study?

Lack of controls leading to low reliability and difficulties in establishing a causal relationship.

How does the study relate to issues of individual and situational explanations?

It supports the situational side of the debate.

What was surprising about the number of bystanders in relation to helping behavior?

There was no evidence for the diffusion of responsibility.