BYSTANDER RESPONSE TO AN ASSAULT - WHEN A MAN ATTACKS A WOMAN

• NCJ Number: 39738
• Journal: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology Volume: 34 Issue: 5 Dated: (1976) Pages: 990-999
• Author(s): R L SHOTLAND; M K STRAW
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: American Psychological Assoc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

REPORT OF A PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDY OF BYSTANDER RESPONSE TO MALE/FEMALE QUARRELS AND FIGHTS.

Abstract

ONE EXPERIMENT INVOLVED A SITUATION WHERE A FEMALE ACTRESS BEING ATTACKED BY A MALE ACTOR WOULD YELL, 'I DON'T KNOW YOU'. IN ANOTHER EXPERIMENT, THE FEMALE ACTRESS WOULD YELL, 'I DON'T KNOW WHY I EVER MARRIED YOU'. UNSUSPECTING SUBJECT BYSTANDERS WERE THEN ASKED THEIR REASONS FOR INTERVENING OR FOR NOT INTERVENING. ONLY TWO SUBJECTS TOOK ACTION TO STOP THE FIGHTS. IN OTHER EXPERIMENTS, SUBJECTS VIEWED FILMS OF A FIGHT BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN. THEY WERE THEN INTERVIEWED ABOUT THEIR FEELINGS AND PERCEPTIONS. IN OTHER EXPERIMENTS THE STUDENTS FOUND THAT IF THE SUBJECTS KNOW LITTLE ABOUT THE CONFLICT, THEY ARE LIKELY TO PERCEIVE THE PROTAGONISTS AS DATES, LOVERS, OR MARRIED COUPLES RATHER THAN AS STRANGERS, ACQUAINTANCES, OR FRIENDS....BS