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Group Paralysis

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Posted by Dan Gunther and Melanie Stabs on May 15, 1998 at 16:15:47:

In Reply to: Re: A post about nothing posted by teree bradley on May 15, 1998 at 13:07:33:

There is an idea that we learned in Consumer Behavior class, but I'm sure is true of many Pysch classes, called Pluralistic Ignorance. It states that a group of people, when witnessing a violent act or something that they dislike, like a robbery, assult, or rape, will be paralyzed by others around them. People, using social proof, will look to others for guidance in difficult situations. This is ok, only everyone is looking to someone else for guidance, and the idea to help the one who needs it gets lost in inaction. The two factors influencing this are the uncertainity of the situation, and the similarity to those who are in the group. For example, if you know a situation well, you are likely to act to fix the wrongdoer. But if you aren't familiar to a situation, and the people around you are similiar enough to you to make you want to act like them (Not some "teenage-punks, druggies, or hookers) you are likely not to break the spell of the group. That is why many onlookers witness murders and assults and do nothing.

Many do feel horrible after, though. These people aren't heartless, they just didn't know how to act, and were afraid to act differently than those around them. The only thing others have to fear is our fear itself, we guess.

If you should run into a situation, instead of calling out for help to a whole group, make eye contact with one person, and call to them for help. If you single out one person, and call to them exactly what to do to help you, they are much more likely to help you. Eye contact alone makes a bond that the person feels requires them to help you. This can make the difference between life and death.

So, although you may dislike when people do nothing in cases of danger, be prepared. And realize that the way our society is now, from all the good samaratins that have been killed, people are afraid. Try to help others, and try to break the group paralysis. Because when one person in a group acts, many others will also help. Be the first to act, and you can help save someone else.

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: There is an idea that we learned in Consumer Behavior class, but I'm sure is true of many Pysch classes, called Pluralistic Ignorance.  It states that a group of people, when witnessing a violent act or something that they dislike, like a robbery, assult, or rape, will be paralyzed by others around them.  People, using social proof, will look to others for guidance in difficult situations.  This is ok, only everyone is looking to someone else for guidance, and the idea to help the one who needs it gets lost in inaction.  The two factors influencing this are the uncertainity of the situation, and the similarity to those who are in the group.  For example, if you know a situation well, you are likely to act to fix the wrongdoer.   But if you aren't familiar to a situation, and the people around you are similiar enough to you to make you want to act like them (Not some "teenage-punks, druggies, or hookers) you are likely not to break the spell of the group.  That is why many onlookers witness murders and assults and do nothing.

: Many do feel horrible after, though.  These people aren't heartless, they just didn't know how to act, and were afraid to act differently than those around them.  The only thing others have to fear is our fear itself, we guess.

: If you should run into a situation, instead of calling out for help to a whole group, make eye contact with one person, and call to them for help.  If you single out one person, and call to them exactly what to do to help you, they are much more likely to help you.  Eye contact alone makes a bond that the person feels requires them to help you.  This can make the difference between life and death.

: So, although you may dislike when people do nothing in cases of danger, be prepared.  And realize that the way our society is now, from all the good samaratins that have been killed, people are afraid.  Try to help others, and try to break the group paralysis.  Because when one person in a group acts, many others will also help.  Be the first to act, and you can help save someone else.

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