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Academics stage cycling "accident" to see how many passers-by stop'Injured cyclist' (Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge).jpg

Academics stage cycling "accident" to see how many passers-by stop

Study explored the extent to which empathy has an impact upon altruistic helping
by Alex Bowden
Tue, Nov 01, 2016 17:27
34

Researchers from Cambridge University have staged a fake cycling accident to investigate the extent to which empathy traits predict whether people will act altruistically.

The study ‘Does empathy predict altruism in the wild?’ was published in Social Neuroscience. It saw a male researcher positioned on the grass by the side of Trumpington Road in Cambridge, pretending to have injured himself while cycling.

A colleague then counted the number of passers-by who stopped to help. Altruism was defined by the person’s response – whether they stopped to help or not.

A total of 55 participants took part in the study, of whom 37 completed two follow-up questionnaires. The questionnaires identified the degree of autistic traits in the individual and assessed empathic traits.

The vast majority of people (93 per cent) didn’t stop to help. The researchers wrote that the main reason seemed to be that, “people were simply in a rush to get somewhere, which has been shown to reduce helping behaviour.” 80 per cent of those who did stop to help were female.

A person’s Empathy Quotient (EQ) was found to be a significant positive predictor of altruistic helping, while the researchers found no evidence to support the notion that more autistic traits negatively predict altruistic helping.

Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, director of Cambridge University’s Autism Research Centre, who worked on the study, said:

“This research is a first step towards understanding why some people may or may not stop to help a person in distress.

“Studies conducted ‘in the wild’ are notoriously difficult to undertake, and even this small sample was derived from over 1,000 passers-by. We will need to await a larger-scale replication.

“These results suggest that one factor that predicts which individuals will not stand idly by, is how many degrees of empathy they have.”

academic study
empathy
Alex Bowden

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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34 comments

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StuInNorway | 8 years ago
3 likes

I guess I was just better dragged up than many today. Despite being a bit late for an appointment at a customer, while walking from the carpark I spotted 2 middle aged ladies staring vaguely ar the derailleur on one of their bikes. Seemed she'd managed to get the entire thing wedged in the spokes and was about to life the back wheel and drag it 4km home.  2 mins + a little elbow grease , and the gear was clear of the spokes in top gear, but seriously booggered. At lesat she could walk it home without lifting.  Got to customer, appologies for delay and asked to go wash hands, explained, and was duly offered a choccie biccie with my coffee.  Seems the customer's wife had just called to say some shining knight had just got her and her bike mobile again..... Odds on that ?

Generally if someone seems to be struggling I'll at least slow up and check they're OK, usually get a cheery "yes thanks" and off I go.  Wouldn't be the first time I've pulled over in the car to offer help either... Hopefully when the day comes that I get stuck, karma will help me out and a nice maxi-taxi driver in a Mercedes Sprinter minibus will drive me home . . . 

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Super Domestique | 8 years ago
2 likes

Biggest shock for me was being knocked off last year in front of a bike shop. Not a major off but a scuffed elbow, knee, etc and a bit shaken as the driver had just sped off.

The guy at the counter had no time for me. I asked if I could clean up and was told no. After another customer spoke to me for a bit the guy behind the counter reluctantly got me a bit of toilet paper he'd run under the tap.

OTOH I'll often ask someone with a mechanical if they are OK or need a hand, let alone someone who had an off.

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Gourmet Shot | 8 years ago
3 likes

Sounds about right

With Personal experience of being run over during morning rush hour and sprawled out in the middle of the road, no-one stopped.  Cars actually steered around me !!!

With the exception of a pedestrian who came over after I finally managed to pick myself up, no-one seemed to give a crap.  

Certainly gave me a new perspective on things

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themartincox | 8 years ago
0 likes

I've been on both sides of this.

having hitch-hiked with my bike after an injury - i found I got a lift within minutes as it was clear something was up (on two separate occasions!s), normal hitching-hiking is very rarely that lucky!

likewise, if i see someone in need at the side of the road I'll certainly help. Empathy in this situation is important, and it's hugely unlikely it will cause me any real inconvenience!

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