Helping others
*A person does not think that he can take charge of the situation. *The situation is perceived as dangerous as it was in the case above. *Diffusion of responsibility: perhaps this is the most important factor. A victim's chances of being helped promptly decrease as the number of people observing increase. Everyone thinks that someone else will help and then no one helps. When this passing of the load occurs person feels less responsible to help.
*City and small Towns: Many a times people say that small towners or villagers are more likely to help than city dwellers. It is true not because small town people are more helping but because of the fact that city life is too complex and diversified to be interpreted accurately. What might be unusual phenomena in a town might be normal in city. Diffusion of responsibility is more in city as there are more number of people around.
*Personal and physical characteristics of a victim play an important role in getting help from others.
For example: A person suddenly falls down while walking as he has heart attack. If this person is well dressed, looks educated then his falling down is attributed to some physical illness. He is more likely to receive help. But if he is a dirty, shabby, looks uneducated then more often his falling down is attributed to alcohol and he is less likely to get any help.
**Strangers Vs Acquaintances: People are more likely to help an acquaintance than the strangers. Reasons are simple.
*You feel more responsible for the wellbeing of known people than for the strangers
*More empathy is evoked when someone you know is in need. *You are less likely to meet stranger again so there is not much pressure on your conscious.
**Women are more likely to be helped than men are, as they are perceived to be weaker specie. Independent, stronger men may perceive help as an insult. So people hesitate helping a man when the situation is ambiguous.
**Social influence: When we encounter some vague situation we look for the clues form others. Even though we think that the help is needed if others are just passing by without even noticing it we too may do the same thing.
All these factors contribute in getting help. So when you need help it is necessary to make the situation clear. Shouting for help removes ambiguity from the situation if any. Appealing to individual increases chances of getting
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