Description
Part A: This phenomenon really happens!
This short video is partially hosted by the very famous Phil Zimbardo who discusses helping behavior (or the lack thereof). The scenes in this video is unbelievable! Watch this clip and answer the questions below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4S1LLrSzVELinks to an external site.
1. What are your reactions to this video?
2. What is the explanation is given in the video for the lack of helping?
3. What factors seem to make the difference in others offering help?
Part B: ACTUAL FOOTAGE FROM LATANE AND DARLEY
This next clip includes ORIGINAL FOOTAGE of the research conducted by Latane and Darley! These individuals conducted research and found one of the most interesting set of research findings in Social Psychology related to their attempts to explain when people are less . This clip isn’t long but I want you to see these researchers in their prime! 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-lJPdsGdcQLinks to an external site.
1. What was the eliciting event that sparked the research interests in Latane and Darley?
2. What kinds of studies did Latane and Darley do? Be specific and explain clearly.
3. What are your overall reactions to what you viewed in the clip?
JUST FOR FUN: This next video is just for fun. The Bystander Effect was replicated. It’s interesting though that they refer to “Empathy” in this video, but it’s really not about empathy per se. It’s about highlighting ONE condition in which people are more likely to help–that is, when they face the situation by themselves… alone! Again this is just for fun…. Go to Part II to finish the assignment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy6eUTLzcU4Links to an external site.
Part II
Watch this video that highlights “the Bystander Effect” by KenBrown from the University of Iowa who actually explains this phenomenon and the misunderstandings of previous events and research findings:.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ufs8cKyzLvgLinks to an external site.
1. What interpretation is challenged in this video and how does he explain the finding for why people do not help in a group?
2. What advice does he give (taken from Cialdini’s research findings and advice) for when YOU need help?
3. How is helping behavior related to social change? Please bring out information from the video.
4. Can you think of a time when you or someone you know might have benefitted from this information? Did you ever need help but no person responded or if they did, it was too late?
JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION: This clip discusses what history got wrong in the Genovese case. There was some help offered in the Kitty Genovese case, but it was just too late…. This doesn’t negate the findings in the Latane and Darley research, but you should hear the truth about the story that was the impetus for an amazing set of research findings!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBckLqe2c5YLinks to an external site.
