A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

The primary aim of Piliavin et al.'s study was to explore the variables influencing helping behavior, particularly in emergency situations. Their research sought to understand how different factors, such as the characteristics of the person in need and the context of the situation, affected people's willingness to intervene and provide assistance. By varying these factors — including the race of the victim, whether the victim appeared to be ill or intoxicated, and the size of the crowd present — the study aimed to uncover the complex social dynamics that govern whether individuals choose to help.

This work was significant in the field of psychology as it contributed to the understanding of the bystander effect and the situational factors that can either inhibit or promote prosocial behavior. Rather than focusing on the effectiveness of interventions or analyzing psychological profiles, the study concentrated on real-time observational data in a naturalistic setting, which provided valuable insights into the social behaviors of individuals in crisis scenarios.