Psychological Research Into the Behaviour of Bystanders...

Psychological Research Into the Behaviour of Bystanders The first researchers to investigate systematically the circumstances in which bystanders are and are not likely to intervene to help others were Latane Darley. The tragic case of Kitty Genovese in 1960s New York acted as a catalyst for research studies since the case highlighted concepts such as bystander apathy and the unresponsive bystander. Latane and Darley have shown through research that we are less likely to define a situation as being dangerous if other people are present, a phenomenon they called pluralistic ignorance. Latane and Darley performed a study, the smoke-filled room experiment, which demonstrates the power of†¦show more content†¦The fear of making a social blunder, and being subject to ridicule if a situation is ambiguous, also deters people from helping (Pennington et al, 1999). Interestingly, Latane Rodin (1969) found that when two friends were placed in an ambiguous situation, their response to a potential emergency was just as quick as when either was alone, and much quicker than when two strangers were together or when a naà ¯ve participant was with a stooge instructed not to respond. Presumably, with people we do not expect to see again, we are deterred from acting because we will not have the opportunity to explain ourselves if our interpretations are incorrect. There is, however, evidence indicating that when an emergency clearly requires bystander intervention, help is much more likely to be given, even when a large number of people witness the emergency. For example, Clark Word (1974) staged a realistic accident. A technician supposedly received a severe electric shock in a room next to one in which individual participant or participants in groups of two or five were completing a questionnaire. All participants responded and went to the technicians assistance Whilst some witnesses to Kitty Genoveses murder claimed they believed the attack to be aShow MoreRelatedSocial Psychologists : Bystander Effect1446 Words   |  6 Pagesused by social psychologists – bystander effect or bystander apathy may answer the question what makes people to ignore others in need of help, and why? The bystander effect is a phenomenon in which people are less likely to assist another individual in an emergency situation when other individuals or bystanders are present (Schneider, Coutts, Gruman, 2013). In theoretical and practical sense, bystander effect plays important role in understanding the helping behaviour help For the purpose of thisRead MoreBystander Effect : A Social And Psychological Phenomenon1655 Words   |  7 PagesThe bystander effect is both a social and psychological phenomenon in which an individual’s inclination towards showing helping behaviours are minimised by the influence of other people. Research has found that the more people acting as bystanders in a situation, the less likely it is that helping behaviours will be demonstrated. However in the correct conditions, where conditioned cues increase self-awareness, it is possible to reverse the bystander effect phenomenon. The bystander effect is prevalentRead MoreThe Bystander Effect Is Caused By Diffusion Of Responsibility1470 Words   |  6 PagesCritically evaluate the claim that the bystander effect is caused by diffusion of responsibility. The bystander effect (or bystander apathy) is a multifaceted social psychological phenomenon depicting that there is a lesser chance of an individual intervening and helping in an emergency if there are other bystanders present (Hogg and Vaughan, 2014). Diffusion of responsibility is one hypothesised cause of the bystander effect. A person assumes that others present will take action, resulting in aRead MoreHow Do Other People Influence Our Behavior? Essay example1381 Words   |  6 PagesHow do other people influence our behaviour? The public may influence our behaviour though social influence in two different ways, the first is normative influence which is â€Å"an influence to conform to the positive expectations of others† (Cohen 1964). This is shown by Asch where the participant’s task was to compare the length of the lines by matching the standard line with three comparisons, one of which was clearly obvious the correct answer this is known as an unambiguous task. Asch found thatRead MoreEssay about The Bystander Effect1791 Words   |  8 Pages‘The Bystander Effect’ Lily is thirteen years old and tall for her age. One afternoon, she confronts a suspicious looking stranger near a young girl playing in the local park. The stranger takes to his heels when Lily challenges him. Lily’s bravery is the talk of the neighbourhood. On learning of this, a student who is studying social psychology makes the comment: It’s just as well that Lily’s usual playmates were not around or that little girl might not have received any help. (Vaughan andRead More1. Introduction Altruism is unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others; behaviour by1700 Words   |  7 Pages1. Introduction Altruism is unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others; behaviour by an animal that is not beneficial to or may be harmful to itself but that benefits others of its species. (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, n.d.) We often may feel like we are doing something to benefit others, but consider Darwinian evolution, which is the theory according to which species evolve by natural selection - the basic mechanism of evolution whereby those individuals in a population thatRead MoreBystanders in Situations of Bullying: Motivations for Defending a Victim 1868 Words   |  8 Pagesconcepts—causing their victims harm, possessing greater power than their victims and repetition (Oh Hazler, 2009). Bystanders play perhaps the most vital role in bullying (Oh Hazler, 2009). Bystanders can help the bully (‘assistants’ or ‘reinforcers’), remain passive and non-interceptive (‘outsiders’) or they can be ‘defenders’, which are individuals who intervene using prosocial behaviours, meaning that they voluntarily act in ways that benefit others (Oh Hazler, 2009; Thornberg, 2007). StatisticsRead MoreDD307 TMA062512 Words   |  11 PagesREFERENCE TO TWO TOP ICS OF RESEARCH IN DD307 This essay will explore the concept of situated knowledges, and assess the importance of this concept to the critical evaluation of social psychological topics. The concept of situated knowledges is used as an interrogative theme to assist in evaluating knowledge produced in research. All knowledge produced, is situated historically (the time/era), the culture, social and political views, and the geographic location the research was conducted. ConsequentlyRead MoreCan People Resist Normative And Informational Social Influence?2005 Words   |  9 Pagesresist to normative and informational social influence? There is a fundamental human need to belong to social groups especially if people were to live and work together, it is likely that they need to agree on common beliefs, values, attitudes and behaviours in order to get along and fit-in. Thus, we learnt to conform to rules of other people, the more people see others behaving in a particular way or making particular decisions, the more likely people will feel obliged to follow the suit. This is calledRead MoreBullying : Abolish Negative Workplace Atmosphere1339 Words   |  6 Pagesthese points into consideration, it will overall show how the bullies, bystanders and victims all play a role in abolishing workplace bullying. Bullies, Bystanders and Victims According to Canadian Institutes of Health Research, 40% of Canadians have experienced workplace bullying that occurs on a weekly basis (2012). First of all, what exactly is classified bullying? It can be defined as â€Å"repeated, persistent, continuous behaviour as opposed to a single negative act and is generally associated with