Piliavin et al, 1969

Question 1

Bystander

Answer 1

anyone who is present at an incident but not directly involved

Question 2

Bystander effect

Answer 2

behavior of bystanders who don’t assist those who need help in an emergency

Question 3

Diffusion of responsibility

Answer 3

When groups of people witness an emergency together, but they only assume a fraction of responsibility for helping

Question 4

Background of the study

Answer 4

• famous murder in New York, 1964
• woman was stalked by a man
• stabbed 3 separate times
• 38 ppl saw, no one helped

Question 5

What kind of study is this?

Answer 5

Field experiment

Question 6

What is this study investigating?

Answer 6

to investigate if helping behavior was affected by:
- type of victim
- race of victim
- modelling effect
- size of group

Question 7

Sample

Answer 7

• 4450 males and females
• commuters travelling in a tube
• racial mix: 45% black, 55% white
• opportunity sample
• 8 ppl in critical area
• 43 ppl in each carriage
• journey: 7 1/2 mins (unsolicited participants)
• time: weekdays 11am-3pm

Question 8

Field situation

Answer 8

• non-stop ride from 59th 125th street
• no one was allowed to leave so that there was no change when an emergency takes place

Question 9

Procedure

Answer 9

1. 4 Columbia General Studies students
   - 2 males, 2 fems
2. female confederates took seats outside critical are
   - male model + victim standing
3. data collected 103 trials
4. victim stood next to pole in critical area
5. victim staggered forward, collapsed 70 sec after train
6. until receiving help, victim remained on floor
7. if victim got no help by the time train stopped, model helped him on feet
8. at stop, team left and waited separately until other riders left the station
9. proceeds to another platform to board train going in opposite direction for next trial
10. 6-8 trials in given day
11. all trials in same “victim condition”
12. 59th - 125th station

Question 10

Victims

Answer 10

• 4 victims = 3 white, 1 black
• males
• age: 26-35
• all identically dressed in Ein Sower jackets, old slacks, no tie
  -38 trial victims
• smelled of liquor and carried liquor bottle wrapped in BPB
• 65 trials, sober & carried black cane
• standardized procedure, victims dressed + behaved identically on 2 conditions

Question 11

Models

Answer 11

• 4 white males
• ages: 24-29
• no identical clothing
• wore formal attire

Question 12

4 model conditions
1. critical area (early)

Answer 12

• model stood in critical area
• waited until 4th passing station to assist victim
• 70 secs after collapse

Question 13

2. Critical area (late)

Answer 13

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