Social responsiveness toward mental patients: the general public and others

The present study investigated the social responsiveness of the general public, and of psychiatric hospital staff, using Milgram's (1969) lost-letter technique. The public did not return fewer (or more) letters believed to be addressed to mental patients. Highest return rates were observed when personal costs to the finder were negligible. Psychiatric staff returned significantly fewer letters than did the general public. Other research, and implications of the findings, are outlined.