Pilliavin and Levine flashcards

Background to pilliavin

The murder of Kitty Genovese, the bystander effect

Pilliavin aim

To conduct a field experiment to investigate the effect of several different variables e.g type of victim (drunk or ill) and the ethnicity of victim (black or white) on the speed and frequency of the response and the ethnicity of the responder.

Pilliavin sample

4,450 men and women who used the New York subway on weekdays between 11.00 am and 3.00 pm between April 15 and June 26, 1968. About 45% were black, 55% white.

Pilliavin design

Field exp, IM

Pilliavin procedure

103 Separate trials

On each trial a team of four students boarded an express subway train between two specific stops (59th Street and 125 Street) using different doors and varying which carriage they were on.

The team consisted of a ‘victim’, a model and two observers

After about 70 seconds, the ‘victim’ staggered forward and collapsed and remained lying on his back until receiving help. The express subway does not stop for 7 ½ minutes between 59th Street and 125 Street.

If no help was forthcoming then when the train arrived at the station the model helped the victim to his feet and they left the carriage.

Pilliavin results

In all but three of the “cane” situation model trials, the victim received help before the model was due to help (62 out of the 65 trials).

In the “drunk” situation, the victim received help in 19 out of the 38trials before the model was due.

Spontaneous help before 70 secs had lapsed in the model trials was therefore more likely in the “cane” situation. Men were more likely to help than women. Why?