PSY- 530 The Bystander Effect

.docx

School

Grand Canyon University *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

530

Subject

Psychology

Date

May 3, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by MinisterSwan3527 on coursehero.com

The Bystander Effect Shaquana Corder College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Grand Canyon University PSY-530: Social and Cultural Psychology Dr. Rick Webster March 17, 2024 1

Introduction Providing assistance, helping behavior, or supporting others in need is fundamental aspect of human social interaction. From offering help to a stranger in need or lending support to a friend in need, acts of kindness and compassion shape our society. However, the decision to help or not help is influenced by a myriad of factors, both internal and external, that shape our perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors. In this essay, we will explore the intricate interplay of psychological, social, and cultural factors that influence helping behavior. Specifically, we will examine the concepts of diffusion responsibility, pluralistic ignorance, victim effects, dispositional effects, and neural mechanisms, elucidating how each of these phenomena can impact individuals' propensity to offer assistance. The Bystander Effect The bystander effect, which is known as the reduction in helping behavior in the presence of other people, has primarily been attributed to situational factors affecting decision-making processes. This decrease in helping behavior is often attributed to diffusion of responsibility and social influence, leading individuals to assume that someone else will act. Additionally, there are other factors or behaviors that attribute to whether or not a person will offer assistance to someone in need. According to Hortensius and de Gelder (2018), it's crucial to note that when it comes to firefighters or fire responders, only individuals who have undergone proper training are permitted to offer assistance, while trainees are not included. Considering the makeup and number of bystanders is essential for delivering effective aid that optimizes individual survival chances. The Influences of Helping Behavior 2

Diffusion of responsibility is defined as the process where individuals are less likely to act or feel a sense of responsibility in the presence of a large group (Branscombe & Baron, 2016). This occurs because the person believes the responsibility is spread out or diffused between everyone. For example, if there is a situation where a stranger requires assistance amongst a crowd of people, individuals might be less inclined to offer help, assuming that someone else will intervene. This can impact whether or not a person will intervene and offer assistance. According to Branscombe and Baron (2016), mistakenly perceiving that others hold different attitudes from our own, which may hinder our inclination to openly express our viewpoints in public is defined as pluralistic ignorance. For instance, if everyone in a group thinks it’s not their place to offer assistance to someone in need, no one ends up helping because they all incorrectly assume everyone feels the same way. This can have a negative effect on someone in need based off false notions. It is important to consider the victim and dispositional effects that go along with the bystander effect. Victim effects pertain to the attributes of a victim that can affect their likelihood of receiving assistance. Factors such as the victim's perceived similarity to the potential helper, their perceived deservingness of help, and the perceived severity of their circumstances can all influence helping behavior (Identifiable Victim Effect, 2021). An example of this is when a person is more likely to help someone they perceive as like themselves or someone they believe is truly in need. Furthermore, dispositional effects refers to the influence of individual personality traits, tendencies, or inherent qualities on behavior. In the context of helping behavior, dispositional effects involve how traits such as empathy, compassion, altruism, and personal values can shape a person's inclination to offer assistance to others. For example, 3

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

Recommended textbooks for you

Ciccarelli: Psychology_5 (5th Edition)

Psychology

ISBN:9780134477961

Author:Saundra K. Ciccarelli, J. Noland White

Publisher:PEARSON

Cognitive Psychology

Psychology

ISBN:9781337408271

Author:Goldstein, E. Bruce.

Publisher:Cengage Learning,

Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and ...

Psychology

ISBN:9781337565691

Author:Dennis Coon, John O. Mitterer, Tanya S. Martini

Publisher:Cengage Learning

Psychology in Your Life (Second Edition)

Psychology

ISBN:9780393265156

Author:Sarah Grison, Michael Gazzaniga

Publisher:W. W. Norton & Company

Cognitive Psychology: Connecting Mind, Research a...

Psychology

ISBN:9781285763880

Author:E. Bruce Goldstein

Publisher:Cengage Learning

Theories of Personality (MindTap Course List)

Psychology

ISBN:9781305652958

Author:Duane P. Schultz, Sydney Ellen Schultz

Publisher:Cengage Learning

SEE MORE TEXTBOOKS

Recommended textbooks for you

Ciccarelli: Psychology_5 (5th Edition)
Psychology
ISBN:9780134477961
Author:Saundra K. Ciccarelli, J. Noland White
Publisher:PEARSON
Cognitive Psychology
Psychology
ISBN:9781337408271
Author:Goldstein, E. Bruce.
Publisher:Cengage Learning,
Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and ...
Psychology
ISBN:9781337565691
Author:Dennis Coon, John O. Mitterer, Tanya S. Martini
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Psychology in Your Life (Second Edition)
Psychology
ISBN:9780393265156
Author:Sarah Grison, Michael Gazzaniga
Publisher:W. W. Norton & Company
Cognitive Psychology: Connecting Mind, Research a...
Psychology
ISBN:9781285763880
Author:E. Bruce Goldstein
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Theories of Personality (MindTap Course List)
Psychology
ISBN:9781305652958
Author:Duane P. Schultz, Sydney Ellen Schultz
Publisher:Cengage Learning