SPY - Group Influences on Behavior and Mental Processes Lesson

Image of Kitty Genovese: 28 year old Kitty Genovese was murdered in three separate attacks over a period of thirty minutes. Out of the 38 onlookers not one called the police until after the attacks were over and Kitty had passed away.

Learning Targets:

Describe the structure and function of different kinds of group behavior.
Predict the impact of the presence of others on individual behavior.

AP psychology course and exam description, effective fall 2020. (n.d.). https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-psychology-course-and-exam-description.pdf

Helping Behavior

In March 1964, 38 onlookers watched from their high-rise apartment buildings as 28-year-old Kitty Genovese was murdered in three separate attacks over a period of thirty minutes. Out of the thirty-eight onlookers, not one called the police until after the attacks were over and Kitty had passed away. Experts were baffled. Why did no one call the police to help this woman? Research shows that people often help others, even if doing so means great personal risk. Helping those with no expectation of personal reward or benefit is known as altruism.

Prosocial behavior describes when we help another, whether the motive is self-serving or selfless.

Factors that Increase the Likelihood of Bystanders Helping	Factors that Decrease the Likelihood of Bystanders Helping
"Feel good, do good" effect - if you feel good you are more likely to extend help. Feeling guilty - If we feel guilty about something we are more likely to help. Seeing others help - when we see others who know what to do, we are more likely to help. Perception of help needed - if we feel those needing help are at no fault of their own, we are more likely to help. Knowing how to help - knowledge of how to help is power. Having a personal relationship - if we know the person, we are more likely to help them.	The presence of other bystanders - when others is present, we diffuse the responsibility. Known as the bystander effect. A large city or small town - Either of these conditions decreases the likelihood that we will help. Vague situations - if we do not know what is going on we are less likely to intervene. Personal costs outweighing benefits - If the potential cost to us outweighs the benefits we are less likely to help.

Factors that Increase the Likelihood of Bystanders Helping

Factors that Decrease the Likelihood of Bystanders Helping

"Feel good, do good" effect - if you feel good you are more likely to extend help.
Feeling guilty - If we feel guilty about something we are more likely to help.
Seeing others help - when we see others who know what to do, we are more likely to help.
Perception of help needed - if we feel those needing help are at no fault of their own, we are more likely to help.
Knowing how to help - knowledge of how to help is power.
Having a personal relationship - if we know the person, we are more likely to help them.

The presence of other bystanders - when others is present, we diffuse the responsibility. Known as the bystander effect.
A large city or small town - Either of these conditions decreases the likelihood that we will help.
Vague situations - if we do not know what is going on we are less likely to intervene.
Personal costs outweighing benefits - If the potential cost to us outweighs the benefits we are less likely to help.

Learn more about the bystander effect in the video below.

Influence of Groups on Individual Behavior

Sometimes our behavior is affected by the presence of others. Click through the presentation below to see the effects of being part of a group on behavior.

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