The psychological theories for discussion
The two psychological theories that are used here are;
- The presence of people around us
- Whether we are influenced to help them or not
In explicating this connection, I will make use of a concept known as the bystander effect in psychology. This concept explains scenarios in which people fail to give help to a person.
- The chances of assistance are inversely linked to the total number of bystanders around someone.
- The more the bystanders are, there are reduced chances that any of those individuals would offer any kind of assistance.
A number of variables are used to elucidate why the bystander effect happens. Such variables are uncertainty, togetherness, and lastly the dissemination of responsibility.
Incorporation of research
In 1964, a man called Kitty Genovese was murdered. This made two psychologists make a demonstration of the bystander effect in an unknown library in 1968. Through several of the research studies that they started, a very potent and most believable outcome in social psychology was reached. In an archetypal study, the participant is placed on his or her own or in a certain grouping of more people who are participating in the study.
A crisis situation is then made to occur and the psychologists take recordings of the length of time used by those used as participants to make an intervention. The studies proved that the presence of people around a person hinders help, many times by a very gaping margin. For instance, in one of the researches conducted, a crisis was staged of a lady in the problem. At least 70 percent of the individuals chose to assist her after believing that she had actually gotten injured. However, the presence of other people in that region reduced the percentage to just 40 percent of those who saw a need to help the lady.
Connections between the theories to research findings discussed
Clearly, a theory of persuasion could be used to explain the connection between the theories been connected here. It is obvious then that people are affected to respond depending on whether a situation is an emergency one or not. Through previously conducted research to analyze bystander conduct in non-emergency scenarios, the outcomes showed that the manner through which subjects were begged for assistance had a bearing.
In one situation, subjects inquired from bystanders for their names. Many individuals responded when the subjects offered an explanation for the problem and the chances of getting help went up. Compared to when a subject asked for something directly, the percentage went down to around 34 percent. Basically, when imploring for help, the increased amount of information given to a bystander, the higher the chances of help become. Characteristics of emergencies that have an effect on bystanders include,
- Emergencies that show chances of harm or involve an actual form of harm
- The rarity or scarcity of such an emergency
- The nature of the reaction needed in an emergency situation varies with circumstances
- The unpredictability of an emergency
- Where urgent action is required of an emergency
Because of the above characteristics, bystanders pass through several cognitive as well as behavioral processes as mentioned below;
- They become aware of what is happening
- Make an interpretation of the scenario as one that is an emergency
- Develop a level of responsibility
- Nature of help
- Make implementation of the action appropriate.