EFFECTS OF BYSTANDER DENSITY UPON ALTRUISTIC BEHAVIOR

OSAMU IWATA

doi:10.4992/psycholres1954.19.49

OSAMU IWATA

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JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

1977 Volume 19 Issue 2 Pages 49-55

DOI https://doi.org/10.4992/psycholres1954.19.49

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Published: September 30, 1977 Received: December 08, 1975 Available on J-STAGE: February 24, 2009 Accepted: - Advance online publication: - Revised: -
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Date of correction: February 24, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: ABSTRACT Details: Wrong : College students participated in a questionnaire study. The questionnaire booklet contained 11 pairs of situational descriptions in which someone in distress needed help. All pairs were dissociated and the 22 situations randomly ordered. One situation of each pair represented high bystander density and the other low. Subjects were requested to choose and altruistic or less altruistic response to each situation. Results were very similar for male and female samples. The bystander density was a determinant of altruistic behavior. The degree of altruism was a mediating factor of helping behavior in some situations. Sex, community size, experience of residential move, interpersonal affiliation, and trust in humans were negligible or weak intervening factors in the effect of bystander density upon altruistic behavior.
Right : College students participated in a questionnaire study. The questionnaire booklet contained 11 pairs of situational descriptions in which someone in distress needed help. All pairs were dissociated and the 22 situations randomly ordered. One situation of each pair represented high bystander density and the other low. Subjects were requested to choose an altruistic or less altruistic response to each situation. Results were very similar for male and female samples. The bystander density was a determinant of altruistic behavior. The degree of altruism was a mediating factor of helping behavior in some situations. Sex, community size, experience of residential move, interpersonal affiliation, and trust in humans were negligible or weak intervening factors in the effect of bystander density upon altruistic behavior.

Date of correction: February 24, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: CITATION Details: Wrong : BICKMAN, L., TEGER, A., GABRIELE, T., MCLAUGHLIN, C., BERGER, M., & SUNADAY, E. 1973 Dormitory density and helping behavior. Environment & Behavior, 5, 465-490.
DARLEY, J. M., & LATANÉ, B. 1968 Bystander intervention in emergencies: Diffusion of responsibility. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 8, 377-383.
FREEDMAN, J. L. 1973 The effect of population density on humans. In J. T. Fawcett (Ed.), Psychological perspectives on population. New York: Basic Books.
KORTE, G., & KERR, N. 1975 Responses to altruistic opportunities in urban settings. Journal of Social Psychology, 95, 183-184.
LATANÉ, B., & DARLEY, J. M. 1968 Group inhibition of bystander intervention in emergencies. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 10, 215-221.
LATANÉ, B., & RODIN J. 1969 A lady in distress: Inhibiting effects of friends and strangers on bystander intervention. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 5, 189-198.
LEVINE, M. E., VILENA, J., ALTMAN, D., & NADIEN, M. 1976 Trust of the strangers: An urban / small town comparison. Journal of Psychology, 92, 113-116.
MERRENS, M. R. 1973 Nonemergency helping behavior in various sized communities. Journal of Social Psychology, 90, 327-328.
MILGRAM, S. 1970 The experience of living in cities. Science, 167, 1461-1468.
MITCHELL, R. E. 1971 Some social implications of high density housing. American Sociological Review, 36, 18-29.
TUCKER, J., & FRIEDMAN, T. 1972 Population density and group size. American Sociological Review, 77, 742-749.
VALINS, S., & BAUM, A. 1973 Residential group size, social interaction, and crowding. Environment & Behavior, 5, 421-439.

Right : BICKMAN, L., TEGER, A., GABRIELE, T., MCLAUGHLIN, C., BERGER, M., & SUNADAY, E. 1973 Dormitory density and helping behavior. Environment Behavior, 5, 465-490.
DARLEY, J. M., & LATANÉ, B. 1968 Bystander intervention in emergencies: Diffusion of responsibility. Journal of Personality Social Psychology, 8, 377-383.
FREEDMAN, J. L. 1973 The effect of population density on humans. In J. T. Fawcett (Ed.), Psychological perspectives on population. New York: Basic Books.
KORTE, C., & KERR, N. 1975 Responses to altruistic opportunities in urban settings. Journal of Social Psychology, 95, 183-184.
LATANÉ, B., & DARLEY, J. M. 1968 Group inhibition of bystander intervention in emergencies. Journal of Personality Social Psychology, 10, 215-221.
LATANÉ, B., & RODIN J. 1969 A lady in distress: Inhibiting effects of friends and strangers on bystander intervention. journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 5, 189-198.
LEVINE, M. E., VILENA, J., ALTMAN, D., & NADIEN, M. 1976 Trust of the strangers: An urban/small town comparison. Journal of Psychology, 92, 113-116.
MERRENS, M. R. 1973 Nonemergency helping behavior in various sized communities. Journal of Social Psychology, 90, 327-328.
MILCRAM, S. 1970 The experience of living in cities. Science, 167, 1461-1468.
MITCHELL, R. E. 1971 Some social implications of high density housing. American Sociological Review, 36, 18-29.
TUCKER, J., & FRIEDMAN, T. 1972 Population density and group size. American Sociological Review, 77, 742-749.
VALINS, S., & BAUM, A. 1973 Residential group size, social interaction, and crowding. Environment Behavior, 5, 421-439.

Date of correction: February 24, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: PDF FILE Details: -

Date of correction: February 24, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: CITATION Details: Wrong : BICKMAN, L., TEGER, A., GABRIELE, T., MCLAUGHLIN, C., BERGER, M., & SUNADAY, E. 1973 Dormitory density and helping behavior. Environment Behavior, 5, 465-490.
DARLEY, J. M., & LATANÉ, B. 1968 Bystander intervention in emergencies: Diffusion of responsibility. Journal of Personality Social Psychology, 8, 377-383.
FREEDMAN, J. L. 1973 The effect of population density on humans. In J. T. Fawcett (Ed.), Psychological perspectives on population. New York: Basic Books.
KORTE, C., & KERR, N. 1975 Responses to altruistic opportunities in urban settings. Journal of Social Psychology, 95, 183-184.
LATANÉ, B., & DARLEY, J. M. 1968 Group inhibition of bystander intervention in emergencies. Journal of Personality Social Psychology, 10, 215-221.
LATANÉ, B., & RODIN J. 1969 A lady in distress: Inhibiting effects of friends and strangers on bystander intervention. journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 5, 189-198.
LEVINE, M. E., VILENA, J., ALTMAN, D., & NADIEN, M. 1976 Trust of the strangers: An urban/small town comparison. Journal of Psychology, 92, 113-116.
MERRENS, M. R. 1973 Nonemergency helping behavior in various sized communities. Journal of Social Psychology, 90, 327-328.
MILCRAM, S. 1970 The experience of living in cities. Science, 167, 1461-1468.
MITCHELL, R. E. 1971 Some social implications of high density housing. American Sociological Review, 36, 18-29.
TUCKER, J., & FRIEDMAN, T. 1972 Population density and group size. American Sociological Review, 77, 742-749.
VALINS, S., & BAUM, A. 1973 Residential group size, social interaction, and crowding. Environment Behavior, 5, 421-439.

Right : BICKMAN, L., TEGER, A., GABRIELE, T., MCLAUGHLIN, C., BERGER, M., & SUNADAY, E. 1973 Dormitory density and helping behavior. Environment & Behavior, 5, 465-490.
DARLEY, J. M., & LATANÉ, B. 1968 Bystander intervention in emergencies: Diffusion of responsibility. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 8, 377-383.
FREEDMAN, J. L. 1973 The effect of population density on humans. In J. T. Fawcett (Ed.), Psychological perspectives on population. New York: Basic Books.
KORTE, C., & KERR, N. 1975 Responses to altruistic opportunities in urban settings. Journal of Social Psychology, 95, 183-184.
LATANÉ, B., & DARLEY, J. M. 1968 Group inhibition of bystander intervention in emergencies. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 10, 215-221.
LATANÉ, B., & RODIN J. 1969 A lady in distress: Inhibiting effects of friends and strangers on bystander intervention. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 5, 189-198.
LEVINE, M. E., VILENA, J., ALTMAN, D., & NADIEN, M. 1976 Trust of the strangers: An urban/small town comparison. Journal of Psychology, 92, 113-116.
MERRENS, M. R. 1973 Nonemergency helping behavior in various sized communities. Journal of Social Psychology, 90, 327-328.
MILGRAM, S. 1970 The experience of living in cities. Science, 167, 1461-1468.
MITCHELL, R. E. 1971 Some social implications of high density housing. American Sociological Review, 36, 18-29.
TUCKER, J., & FRIEDMAN, T. 1972 Population density and group size. American Sociological Review, 77, 742-749.
VALINS, S., & BAUM, A. 1973 Residential group size, social interaction, and crowding. Environment & Behavior, 5, 421-439.

Abstract

College students participated in a questionnaire study. The questionnaire booklet contained 11 pairs of situational descriptions in which someone in distress needed help. All pairs were dissociated and the 22 situations randomly ordered. One situation of each pair represented high bystander density and the other low. Subjects were requested to choose an altruistic or less altruistic response to each situation. Results were very similar for male and female samples. The bystander density was a determinant of altruistic behavior. The degree of altruism was a mediating factor of helping behavior in some situations. Sex, community size, experience of residential move, interpersonal affiliation, and trust in humans were negligible or weak intervening factors in the effect of bystander density upon altruistic behavior.

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