Core Studies - Piliavin’s Study

Question 1

Pluralistic Ignorance

Answer 1

When a group collectively aren’t clear as to whether a situation is an emergency or not or whether the person is actually in need

Question 2

Diffusion of Responsibility

Answer 2

People perceive responsibility as being shared between all present and therefore see themselves as being less personally responsible

Question 3

Piliavin Aim

Answer 3

To investigate how the nature of a situation would affect the helping behaviour of those present

Question 4

Independent variables

Answer 4

1. Type of victim (drunk or ill)
2. Race of victim (Black or White)
3. Effect of a model (when one person offers assistance either after 70 or 150 seconds
4. Size of the witnessing group

Question 5

Dependent variables

Answer 5

1. Frequency of help
2. Speed of help
3. Race of helper
4. Sex of helper
5. Movement out of the critical area
6. Verbal comments by bystanders

Question 6

Research method

Answer 6

• Field experiment
• Took place on New York Subway
• Journeys lasted approximately 7.5 mins

Question 7

Piliavin Sample

Answer 7

• Around 4500
• Men and Women
• Used New York Subway on weekdays between 11am and 3pm
• 45% black and 55% white

Question 8

Piliavin Procdure

Answer 8

1. Helping behavure was observed on train by 2 female observers
2. Victims (drunk or ill)would step on train and fall after 70s
3. Victim remind still on the floor looking at the ceiling
4. Observers would record dependant variables (name)
5. Another confederate modelling helping behaviour would help the victim after 70 or 150 seconds if no one helped
6. At stop team disembarked, changed platforms to repeat the process

Question 9

Model Conditions

Answer 9

1. Critical area - early
2. Critical area - late
3. Adjacent area - early
4. Adjacent area - late

Question 10

Materials/Apparatus

Answer 10

1. Black cane for ill victim
2. Bottle wrapped in brown paper bag for drunk victim
3. Stopwatch to measure time taken to respond
4. Notepad/checklist to record observations

Question 11

Quantitative Results

Answer 11

1. Spontaneous help without model - 95% ill victim, 50% drunk victim
2. Overall help - 100% ill victim, 81% drunk victim
3. Slight tendency for same race helping especially in drunk condition

Question 12

Qualitative Results

Answer 12

• More comments made in drunk condition than in can condition
• Female passengers made comments such as ‘it’s a man’s job to help’ or ‘I’d help but I’m just not strong enough’

Question 13

Conclusions

Answer 13

• When escape is not possible and bystanders are face to face with a victim, help. Is more likely and diffusion of responsibility is less likely
• An individual who appears ill is more likely to receive help than one who appears drunk as being drunk is seen as self induced in a social context
• Bystanders conduct a cost-reward analysis before deciding whet or not to help a victim