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From Empathy to Apathy: The Bystander Effect Revisited
Ruud Hortensius1, Beatrice de Gelder2,3
1Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Glasgow.
Current Directions in Psychological Science
|September 1, 2018
Summary
Bystander apathy, a reduction in helping behavior when others are present, stems from emotional and personality factors, not just situational influences. Understanding these dispositional aspects reveals the reflexive nature of this social phenomenon.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- The bystander effect is traditionally explained by situational factors influencing decision-making.
- Recent research increasingly points to neural mechanisms and dispositional factors underlying bystander apathy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a new theoretical perspective on bystander apathy.
- To integrate emotional, motivational, and dispositional aspects of bystander behavior.
- To highlight the role of personality in bystander apathy.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent evidence on neural mechanisms.
- Analysis of dispositional factors influencing helping behavior.
- Development of a new theoretical integration.
Main Results:
- Personal distress is enhanced in the presence of other bystanders.
- Fixed action patterns, such as avoidance and freezing, dominate bystander responses.
- Bystander apathy is linked to reflexive emotional reactions influenced by individual personality.
Conclusions:
- Bystander apathy is not solely due to situational influences.
- Emotional and dispositional factors play a crucial role in the reduction of helping behavior.
- Personality traits significantly determine an individual's likelihood to exhibit bystander apathy.
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