Psychological processes of the bystander effect in dangerous and non-dangerous helping situations

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Peter Fischer
• Subject Area: Social Psychology, Industrial and Organisational Psychology
• Term: from 2012 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 227620447

The classic bystander effect reflects a reduced probability of individual helping when more compared to less additional bystanders are present in an emergency situation (Latané & Nida, 1981). Results of the previous research program on determinants of civil courage behavior lead to three further questons that are not yet resolved by empirical bystander research.(1) What are the underlying psychological processes of the classic bystander effect in non-dangerous helping situations (low cost situations)?(2) What are the underlying psychological processes of the classic bystander effect in dangerous helping situations (high cost situations)? Especially with regard to dangerous emergencies recent studies revealed that the bystander effect occurs in a reduced or even reversed manner. And, finally,(3) Does the bystander effect also occur in critical situations where no physical victim is present, and thus no "blame the victim" effect can occur. We propose seven experimental studies in order to answer these three questions.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: USA
• Participating Persons: Professor Dr. Andreas Kastenmüller; Professor Dr. Joachim I. Krueger