The Bystander Effect | The Science of Empathy

I'm reminded of this one time, I was taking the trash out at work & I had loaded everything up onto this cart: 4 trash bags filled to the brim & a BUNCH of cardboard. There was a pedestrian crossing that I had to take to get to the dumpster, but when I got to the middle of the crossing, all the cardboard fell off the cart & 1 trash bag ripped open, spilling all over the street. I was blocking traffic on both sides & panicking because everyone was staring at me. There were even people who were crossing the street who just looked as they passed by. The only way I got through was when 2 people (who were waiting to be seated at a restaurant just across the street) saw what happened and ran over to help me. I couldn't thank them enough. The lady said she didn't even THINK about not helping me, she saw all the stuff falling & she dropped everything and ran. It seriously meant a lot! <3 ^_^

I think past experiences play a role as well. If you witnessed a negative response to someone helping another person you may be WAY less likely to do it again.

Gosh, the bystander effect is one of the oldest tricks in the book you learn in school, and yet I found myself wincing by the end of this video as I clearly remembered a number of moments when I didn't help someone because there were other people around (or people already helping), even though I consider myself a helpful person. This is a great reminder, thank you.

The problem I see with this test is the environment. The bystanders have a role to play. Their job is to sit and watch the presentation. The professional's job is to set up the presentation and present it. So these results may be skewed.

I feel like some people also either took more time bc they wanted to make sure he actually needed help, didn't know how to put up a tent either so didn't think they'd be much help, or just didn't wanna make the guy feel like he was incapable of doing things on his own

I think that they just think they aren't supposed to help. Because they were told that's not what they were there for.

I've certainly witnessed that in my life. Helps to be aware of it so you can do something about it.

They teach us this (but less detailed) in lifesaving courses. When you need a bystander, you have to be really specific. So, instead of saying “hey could someone help me?”, say “you in the red shorts, could you help me?” Useful tip

4:58 OOOOHH he put him on blasttttt

As an introvert, if I had offered help and he said “no thank you”, I would have sat in my chair sweating until I died of embarrassment.

I've never put a tent up and because it's a product he has brought in I would assume he would be able to do it better than I could. I'd be worried I'd offer to help and end up not having a clue what to do and make the whole thing worse/ruin it. I'd be sitting there wondering if anyone else has the experience/skill of putting up a tent and if so, they could help him. Ps. The girl at 3:03 😍

Struggling with a tent is completely different from a scenario in which someone may be getting physically or emotionally assaulted. I feel like the responses to help out were out of politeness, or courtesy (learned reactions), as opposed to helping someone out of empathy (involved reactions).

u guys need to be on TV!!! this is so needed in our nation! nowadays, people just pull out their cell phones to record instead of stepping in. thank u guys for all u do!!!

I always have the mentality that if I don’t do it, nobody else will

I guess this is why you hear stories about people getting raped in NYC and nobody stopping to help. I find it a little disconcerting because the population goes up every day, so do our chances of receiving help also go down every day?

If one person by themselves in this situation, I bet they'll feel like they had to help as they're the only one who can help and expected to help.

This would be more accurate if it wasn't a "product demonstration"

I think it depends on the task. I am hopeless at putting up a tent so I would be worried that I would just be in the way.

i watched this years ago in 6th grade. it just kinda stuck with me. now, every day, when there's somebody who needs help when there's a crowd and i hesitate, this video always pops up in my mind. it makes me move. thank you for reminding me of how i can be a better person❤

the problem with your test was that you gave people instructions to fill out a survey. How are they going to fill out a survey and help you