Summary
Levine et al 2001: Cross-Cultural Differences in
Helping Strangers
Context
Economic Explanations for Helping
Behaviour:
Linksy and Straus (1986) found that
communities with Poorer Economies
had a higher rate of crime. Similarly, Lee
(1995) found that workers who were
satisfied with their pay were more likely to engage in pro-social
behaviours.
On the other hand, evidence suggests that helping may correlate
negatively with wealth. This is because people living in Wealthier
countries are encouraged to be more Individualistic. They may
ignore values such as helpfulness to others.
Cultural Explanations:
Simpatia is a Spanish term
which describes a culture
where there is proactive
socioemotional orientation
and concern with the social
well-being of others. You
must be friendly, polite, and friendly towards strangers to show this.
It was predicted that Simpatia cultures would be more helpful to
strangers than Individualistic or Collectivist cultures (correct).
Cognitive Explanations:
, Cognitive Processing Theory states that a more rapid Pace of Life
decreases the likelihood of people finding time for social
responsibilities like helping.
Milgram’s (1970) Overload Theory
suggests people who live in cities where
there is a lot of sensory input experience
psychological overload as they are
bombarded with more information than
they can process. This would lead to
screening out any nonessential stimuli,
which can lead to the needs of strangers
being ignored as people move towards their goals as quickly as
possible.
Research also supported the idea that people who have little time
are less likely to help strangers than those who are not in a rush
(Darley and Batson, 1973).
Aims
To examine the tendency of people in the
largest city of each of the 23 countries to help a
stranger in a non-emergency situation.
Specifically, to investigate:
If the tendency of people to help
strangers is universal or dependent on the
characteristics of a city.
Whether the helping of strangers varies between cultures.
Whether particular characteristics of a community, such as City
Size, are associated with the tendency to help strangers.
Levine et al 2001: Cross-Cultural Differences in
Helping Strangers
Context
Economic Explanations for Helping
Behaviour:
Linksy and Straus (1986) found that
communities with Poorer Economies
had a higher rate of crime. Similarly, Lee
(1995) found that workers who were
satisfied with their pay were more likely to engage in pro-social
behaviours.
On the other hand, evidence suggests that helping may correlate
negatively with wealth. This is because people living in Wealthier
countries are encouraged to be more Individualistic. They may
ignore values such as helpfulness to others.
Cultural Explanations:
Simpatia is a Spanish term
which describes a culture
where there is proactive
socioemotional orientation
and concern with the social
well-being of others. You
must be friendly, polite, and friendly towards strangers to show this.
It was predicted that Simpatia cultures would be more helpful to
strangers than Individualistic or Collectivist cultures (correct).
Cognitive Explanations:
, Cognitive Processing Theory states that a more rapid Pace of Life
decreases the likelihood of people finding time for social
responsibilities like helping.
Milgram’s (1970) Overload Theory
suggests people who live in cities where
there is a lot of sensory input experience
psychological overload as they are
bombarded with more information than
they can process. This would lead to
screening out any nonessential stimuli,
which can lead to the needs of strangers
being ignored as people move towards their goals as quickly as
possible.
Research also supported the idea that people who have little time
are less likely to help strangers than those who are not in a rush
(Darley and Batson, 1973).
Aims
To examine the tendency of people in the
largest city of each of the 23 countries to help a
stranger in a non-emergency situation.
Specifically, to investigate:
If the tendency of people to help
strangers is universal or dependent on the
characteristics of a city.
Whether the helping of strangers varies between cultures.
Whether particular characteristics of a community, such as City
Size, are associated with the tendency to help strangers.
