Levine et al. (prosocial behavior)

Question 1

key terms

Answer 1

prosocial behavior
sensory overload hypothesis
population size & density
diffusion of responsibility
(bystanderism)

Question 2

aim

Answer 2

to measure correlations between helping rates and sociocultural factors

Question 3

method

Answer 3

study across 23 largest cities of countries

sociocultural factors, measured by comparing GDP (measure of economic productivity), individualism & collectivism dimensions and life pace

helping rates measured with a confederate acting as a blind person needing help and another having a leg brace and dropping a magazine > who would help

Question 4

results

Answer 4

negative correlation between helping rates and economic productivity - low helping rates in high economies whereas there was more helping in cities with no such strong economies

Question 5

conclusion

Answer 5

traditional value systems may value helping others over obtaining wealth. in large cities, in order to achieve a strong economy people may need to focus on individual goals and ambitions over helping others

while diffusion of responsibility as a result of high population density can increase bystanderism, there may be other economic and cultural factors involved as well