PSYC 342 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Pluralistic Ignorance, Murder Of Kitty Genovese, Epileptic Seizure
Document Summary
Social proof - principle that people determine what is correct by nding out what others think is correct. We look to accept the actions of others when: we are unsure of ourselves when the situation is unclear or ambiguous: when uncertainty reigns. The more people we see doing a behaviour, the more we see that behaviour as correct in that situation. Usually works well if a lot of people are doing something since it seems like the right thing to do. If available, people prefer to use objective cues. Kitty genovese - genesis of bystander effect research. Common explanations: people are apathetic, sel sh, insensitive, unfeeling and indifferent. People saw others doing nothing and inferred that they should do nothing. Three conditions: participant alone with victim, participant + one other person + victim, participant + four other people + victim. All participants in separate cubicles discussions held over intercoms only one microphone on at a time.
