| Abstract: | On the basis of the Gestalt figure-ground principle, an objective self-awareness theory interpretation of group size effects in helping situations was proposed. From this perspective, the diffusion of responsibility effect commonly observed in helping research is the decreasing likelihood of bystander objective self-awareness, and hence bystander intervention, that accompanies increases in the size of the bystander group. A complementary concentration of responsibility hypothesis derived from this analysis states that an increasing likelihood of bystander objective self-awareness, and therefore of bystander aiding behavior, is associated with increases in the size of the victim group. An experiment with 48 undergraduates tested this hypothesis in a 2–2 design varying number of potential helpers (1 vs 3) and number of victims (1 vs 3). Results show that straightforward appeals for help were more likely to be met with assistance when there were fewer potential helpers or more victims; thus, both the diffusion and concentration of responsibility were observed. Ratings of attentional focus obtained from 126 observer-Ss in a simulation of this experiment further substantiated the contention that these effects are attributable to variations in self-focused attention experienced by potential helpers. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
