Effects of Third Party Intercession on Bystander Intervention

Abstract

Summary Seventy-two sets of people walking along a pathway in a large public park witnessed a person on the ground moaning, in need of assistance. Four groups of Ss were tested: alone, and in groups of two or more; with half of the Ss in each of those groups being asked by a stranger, “Do you think we should do something?” Results indicated that 75% of the people helped when a C asked the prescribed question, compared with only 16.7% of people helping in the absence of the C. Contrary to prior research, in the absence of the C, Ss viewing the victim singly were not more likely to help than were Ss in groups.