Social Approach: Subway Samaritans - Piliavin et al. (1969)

1. What is the Social Approach?

The social approach in psychology is all about understanding how our behavior is influenced by the people around us. It focuses on how we think, feel, and act in social situations, exploring things like:

• Social Influence: How do others change our opinions, beliefs, and actions?
• Social Cognition: How do we process information about others and the world around us?
• Social Identity: How do groups and social roles shape our sense of self?

2. The Subway Samaritans Study: A Quick Overview

Piliavin et al. (1969) conducted a famous experiment called the "Subway Samaritans" study. Their goal was to see what factors would influence a person's willingness to help a stranger in need. They staged a situation on a New York City subway where a 'victim' would collapse and appear to be unconscious.

3. The Experiment's Setup

• The Participants: The participants were real subway passengers, unaware they were part of an experiment.
• The 'Victim': A young man (either white or black) would collapse on the subway and stay motionless.
• The 'Confederates': The researchers had 'confederates' (actors) on the train who played different roles:
  • The Model: A confederate who would intervene and help the victim after a set period of time.
  • The Observers: Confederates who would act as regular passengers and observe the situation.

4. The Key Findings

The study revealed some interesting results:

• The Victim's Race: The race of the victim had a surprising effect. Passengers were more likely to help a white victim than a black victim.
• The Number of Bystanders: The more bystanders there were, the less likely any single person was to offer help. This is known as the diffusion of responsibility - the feeling that someone else will take care of the situation, so you don't have to.
• The Model's Behavior: When a confederate intervened and helped the victim, it significantly increased the likelihood that other passengers would also offer help. This showcases the power of observational learning.

5. What This Means for Us

The "Subway Samaritans" study highlights the powerful influence of social factors on our willingness to help others. We are more likely to act when:

• We feel a personal connection: We feel empathy for the person in need.
• We perceive it as our responsibility: We believe it's our duty to help.
• We see others helping: We are more likely to follow the example of others.

6. Real-World Implications

This study has important implications for understanding prosocial behavior and bystander apathy. It helps us understand why people might hesitate to intervene in emergencies, especially when others are present. It also suggests that promoting helping behavior can be as simple as modeling the desired behavior.

7. Thinking Critically

• Ethical Considerations: This study raises some ethical concerns. Were the participants fully informed about the experiment? Was it ethical to potentially put them in a stressful situation?
• Generalizability: The study was conducted in a specific time and place (New York City in the 1960s). Can the results be generalized to other places and times?

8. In Conclusion

The "Subway Samaritans" study provides valuable insights into the complex dynamics of social behavior. It reminds us that our actions are shaped by the social context and that even in seemingly simple situations, there are often powerful forces at play.