The research doesn’t surprise me, however, the case of Catherine Genovese (p. 288) does. Even after reading the chapter, it’s still hard to believe no one at least called the police. It does make sense that confusion will often cause people to not act. Kenrick, Neuberg, & Cialdini (2015), state that,
Observers fail to help not so much because they are unkind as because they are unsure. They are often unsure of whether helping is appropriate. If they decide that it is, they are often unsure that they are responsible for providing it. And if they decide that they are, they are often unsure of how to help (p. 290).
In situations where I have been unsure about a situation, I’ve at least called the police. In other situations where others were …show more content…
Why?
If I were in need of assistance, I think I would prefer a few bystanders to be present. That way there would be less diffusion of responsibility (Kenrick, Neuberg, & Cialdini, 2015, p. 288), and, therefore, more likely I would receive help.
Describe a time when you noticed someone in need but you failed to act because you noticed others present who could help instead. Or, describe a time when the presence of others gave the illusion that help was not …show more content…
A Christian’s motivation to act, however, is completely different from what Kenrick, Neuberg, & Cialdini (2015) list as motivations: “(1) to improve our own basic welfare [gaining genetic and material benefits], (2) to increase [our] social status and approval, (3) to manage our self-image, (4) to manage our moods and emotions” (p. 279). Neither Christ’s life nor the lives of His disciples reflected these Darwinian motivations. They did not seem motivated in gaining genetic or material benefits, they acted against social norms, their identity was in God, and intimacy with the Father, and each other, managed their emotions. Romans 13: 8-10 says all the commands “are summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (New International
Observers fail to help not so much because they are unkind as because they are unsure. They are often unsure of whether helping is appropriate. If they decide that it is, they are often unsure that they are responsible for providing it. And if they decide that they are, they are often unsure of how to help (p. 290).
In situations where I have been unsure about a situation, I’ve at least called the police. In other situations where others were …show more content…
Why?
If I were in need of assistance, I think I would prefer a few bystanders to be present. That way there would be less diffusion of responsibility (Kenrick, Neuberg, & Cialdini, 2015, p. 288), and, therefore, more likely I would receive help.
Describe a time when you noticed someone in need but you failed to act because you noticed others present who could help instead. Or, describe a time when the presence of others gave the illusion that help was not …show more content…
A Christian’s motivation to act, however, is completely different from what Kenrick, Neuberg, & Cialdini (2015) list as motivations: “(1) to improve our own basic welfare [gaining genetic and material benefits], (2) to increase [our] social status and approval, (3) to manage our self-image, (4) to manage our moods and emotions” (p. 279). Neither Christ’s life nor the lives of His disciples reflected these Darwinian motivations. They did not seem motivated in gaining genetic or material benefits, they acted against social norms, their identity was in God, and intimacy with the Father, and each other, managed their emotions. Romans 13: 8-10 says all the commands “are summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (New International