Piliavin et al - Social approach Part 1

This study was based around the case of Kitty Genovese who was murdered outside her flat. While all the neighbours had heard it, none of them called the police until the murderer came back and stabbed her again. This was due to diffusion of responsibility.

The aims of this study was to see whether the type of victim whether it be race or disability or drunkeness affected who and if anyone helped them. They also looked at the influence of modelling and whether the group size had an effect on diffusion of responsibility.

The sample was a opportunity sample of roughly 4500 men and women who were travelling on the 8th avenue subway in New York. The study was done…