Abstract Emergencies happen every day, all around the world. Not too long ago, the worst emergency erupted inside the United States in the form of airplanes and skyscrapers. The Red Cross, Salvation Army, paramedics, and many other humanitarian groups rushed to help the sick and injured while the 9/11 attacks were still taking place. The nature of humans is to help their fellow person when he or she is in trouble. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. ?Bystander apathy? takes place when people witness an emergency and take no action to help the needy. The larger question, though, is whether one should be held legally responsible for not assisting in an emergency. The author of the paper disagrees with the logic that says one should be held accountable because people are not always sure what an emergency entails, exactly. Moreover, innocent civilians should not be forced into a situation that could potentially put the rescuer in harm's way. This paper argues in favor of the proposition that innocent bystanders should not be held legally responsible for not assisting in an emergency.
From the Paper "Deindividuation?or "loss of one's sense of individuality and personal accountability that can sometimes occur in large, noisy, emotional crowds"?has been seen in courts as a reasonable plea for one's inappropriate actions (Colman, 1991). South African murder trials, in particular, have seen the argument that large crowds of people cloud people's sense of right and wrong and their ability to act rationally is diminished. According to psychologist Graham Tyson's testimony, ?it was quite plausible that they did not appreciate that death could ensue from their actions,? referring to a defendant accused of murdering a police informer (Colman, 1991). We see from here that large crowds manipulate the normal, cognitive functioning of the brain and make people act in a completely different, and unusual, manner."
Abstract This six-page undergraduate paper consists of a proposal for an experiment related to bystander intervention, as well as the actual experiment. All points mentioned about variables and other requirements are included in the paper.
Abstract The paper compares the attribution theory and the altruism and the bystander effect theory, which are both concerned about influences on behavior. The paper explains how the attribution theory is basically concerned with how other people as observers see the behavior, while the bystander effect theory focuses on the bystander who acts or who does not act. The paper shows how although these two theories are very different, they can be used together.
Outline:
Introduction
Attribution Theory
Altruism and the Bystander Effect Theory
Attribution Theory and Bystander Effect Theory Compared
Strengths and Weaknesses
Conclusion
From the Paper "Attribution refers to assumptions about why people behave as they do (Rathus, 2007). Attribution is a matter of looking at other people's motives and traits for explanations of their behavior. There are two types of attribution. The first is dispositional attribution and sees people's behavior in terms of their personality and of these people having free will. The second type is situational attribution which sees human behavior as resulting from social factors (Rathus, 2007). In our society, people usually blame the person instead of social conditions so that dispositional attribution is the most common form."
Abstract The paper analyzes the social-psychological influences that dominated Cambodia during the late 20th century. The paper discusses three major causes of genocide; passive bystanders, historical antagonism and victimization and socialization of violence. The paper then shows how the factors that led to the Khmer Rouge rise and eventual deaths of close to three million Cambodians will always impact this country.
Outline:
The Passive Bystander Historical Antagonism
Victimization and Socialization of Violence
Cambodia Today
From the Paper "Ervin Staub is well known for his extended research on the major acts of genocide of the 20th century. Staub not only conducted decade long research studies on the events that occurred during the Khmer Rouge and other authoritarian regimes, he also attempts to explain the social and psychological constructs of each country. In an effort to provide information to prevent the spread of genocide, Staub notes that genocide occurs primarily for 3 major reasons: 1. Passive bystanders, in other words Stoicism 2. Historical Antagonism 3. Victimization and socialization of violence."
Abstract The paper explains the reasons why this police chase should not be continued, based on the vehicular pursuit procedures issued by the Chief of Police. The paper relates that the standard operating procedures consider weather conditions, the time of day, the state of the victim, the information the police officer had at the time of the pursuit and the safety of other non-involved pedestrians and citizens. The paper explains how in this scenario, it is not certain which person broke in and attacked the women, therefore, because of the time of day, weather conditions and the high risk of hurting or killing an innocent bystander, the vehicular pursuit should be terminated.
From the Paper "Section 6.4 states that weather conditions and time of day are two very good reasons that a pursuit should be terminated. At the time of this given situation the weather and time of day were not in a favorable condition. This incident occurred at 4:45PM, which in December is the beginning of dusk. The sun was going down and it would be getting dark in a few minutes. The weather at the time of this situation was also overcast with light snow. This means that the roads could be slippery and wet in places which would make a high-speed chase unsafe for both the member and the offender."
Abstract The paper discusses three main views of organizational conflict: traditional, human relations and interactionist. The paper then looks at case studies that are based on dysfunctional conflict as opposed to functional conflict. The paper addresses issues related to implications of involvement, freedom of expression, bystanders and third parties, and creative conflict.
Outline:
Introduction
Background Information - What Is Conflict?
Analysis
Conclusion
From the Paper "The traditional view sees conflict as bad, and as such it should be avoided at all cost. With this view an organization is treated as a static entity, and the components of the organization are expected to fit perfectly, so that there is constant stability - hence conflict is inherently 'bad', and results in an actions that are contrary to the achievement of the organizational goals. With this view, conflict signifies that there is some process or procedure that is not clearly defined and the necessary action is to have further elaboration, and conflict is remedied by being structured away."
Abstract This paper presents the facts regarding the murder of Kitty Genovese in New York City in 1964. The paper explains that this murder prompted many social psychologists to consider the nature of emergency helping behavior, since thirty-eight of Genovese's neighbors witnessed the attack without intervening. The paper identifies five elements that determine whether a person will offer assistance in an emergency situation. These conditions are: 1) the event must be noticed by the bystander; 2) it must be interpreted as an emergency by the bystander; 3) the individual must take personal responsibility for offering assistance; 4) the bystander must know how to help; and 5) he or she must be able to implement the decision to offer aid.
From the Paper "In the case of Kitty Genovese in New York City, interviews with the witnesses after the fact showed that everyone noticed the emergency. (Smetana et al., 1983). Since the young woman was attacked and murdered in the middle of the night, in most cases, neighbors were awoken and some even stayed by their windows for the duration of the attack, which lasted almost an hour. (Smetana et al., 1983)
Having noticed an emergency in the first place, the second condition that determines emergency helping behavior, according to Darley and Latane is the correct interpretation. If the event is not interpreted as an emergency, then no help will be offered. One aspect of this correct interpretation is correct perception. Bystanders have to know that what they are witnessing is an emergency. If gunshots are misinterpreted as a car backfiring, then there will be no perception of an emergency, and no bystander intercession."
Abstract This essay examines and defines genocide in general with the emphasis on Rwanda. The essay analyzes the general causes of genocide and the particular causes of the genocide in Rwanda. It also looks at the various actors that were involved in the genocide: the victims, the perpetrators and the bystanders.The bystanders are especially important, as in the case of Rwanda they were the 'international community'.
From the Paper "The 20th century may be called 'the century of genocide', despite all our technological achievements and strives towards a 'civilized', tolerant and global society. In fact it was in the 20th century that this term 'genocide' came into existence. Never before in the history of humankind were so many people killed or their culture destroyed on the grounds of their descent and ethnic affiliation. The Jews, Bosnians and the Rwandans are only three well-known examples. What compels one group of people to 'suddenly' destroy another group, killing men, women and children without any discrimination?"
Abstract This paper examines how the presence of others affects our performance and behaviour. The author argues that the presence of others effects simple/practiced tasks and complex ones differently. Included is an anlysis of group consensus and conformity, social impact theory, and a look at possible outcomes such as: diffusion of responsibility and pluralistic ignorance.
From the paper:
"Our behaviour is influenced in many ways by the actions, views and mere presence of those around us. Many studies in Social Psychology have been carried out on how this influence effects us and how much. It seems that the presence of an audience is beneficial only when the task at hand is simple or well practised. If not, the audience causes performance to get worse. When acting as part of a group, individuals tend to conform to a common group consensus. This is especially the case when such a consensus in unanimous. However, minorities do have the ability to change group norms or perceptions. Individuals are less likely to help those who maybe in trouble when there are other potential helpers around. This is mainly due to pluralistic ignorance and diffusion of responsibility. Social impact theory states that the level of influence on an individual depends on the number, status and proximity of the observers as well as on whether he is acting alone or with others."
Abstract The author of this paper argues that Shell's website on the Ogoni Issue presents a picture of an innocent corporation that has been unfairly targeted in an internal political battle in the country it happens to have oil operations in, and stresses that it cannot interfere in the domestic politics of Nigeria. The paper shows how, as has been demonstrated repeatedly over the last several decades, Shell has not only been complicit in human rights violations by various Nigerian military regimes, but has actually encouraged them when they benefited their operations. Far from being an innocent bystander, Shell is embedded in and benefited by the human rights violations in Nigeria. The author surmises that in reality, Shell's website is little more than corporate 'green-washing' in a battle in which media representations are often as salient as political and economic truths.
From the Paper "The effects of the 40 year involvement of Royal Dutch/Shell in Nigeria is an extremely complex issue, involving the intersection of many economic, political, environmental, social, and cultural concerns. Ogoniland, a 404 square mile patch of land in the fertile Niger River Delta that is home to over 500,000 Ogoni people, has been the site of the extraction of over $30 billion in oil by the Royal Dutch/Shell Company since the 1950s (Barikor-Wiwa, Cayford). Although comprising less than 1% of the population of the Niger Delta, the Ogoni have been amazingly effective in bringing international attention to both the environmental degradation caused by Shell's oil operations and Shell's complicity in and possible direct support of the human rights violations of the military regime which has until recently controlled the government of Nigeria."
Examination of the article "Bystanders to Genocide", in which investigative reporter, Samantha Power, exposes the failure of the U.S. Government to take any action in opposing the mass killings that occurred in Rwanda in 1994.
1,554 words (approx. 6.2 pages), 0 sources, 2002, $ 51.95
Abstract This paper discusses the sources and documentation exposed by Power during her investigation whereby she claims that many top-rank authorities knew what was happening in Rwanda, but nobody tried to put an end to it. The writer shows how Power asks whether the reasons were political or military or simpke lack of concern for the African continent.
From the Paper "Through the examination of recently declassified documents and interviews with dozens of US officials, and others in decision making positions, Power finds American foreign policy guilty of deliberately "standing by" and allowing the Hutu extremists to systematically cleanse Rwanda of its Tutsi minority. Yet, despite the detailed analysis of this particular atrocity, the overriding impression created by the article, is of the isolationist and dehumanized nature of US foreign policy, and of the unwillingness of American government to intervene in any situation that does not encroach upon their national interests."
Abstract This paper explores how in today's society neo-liberalism and capitalism go hand in hand. As governments scramble to find new ways to save money by cutting costs, many economic policies have had negative influences on regulatory bodies in the area of environment and society. The writer reviews the reductions in the size of the governments environmental watchdogs, the department of natural resources as well as the department of fisheries and oceans which have thus hampered in the efforts to monitor and control the environment. The paper concludes that barriers placed on environmental resources have become stronger as corporations grow to consume larger and larger amounts of capital, and the resources necessary to create that capital. The main theory behind neo-liberalism is to allow the markets to dictate everything and to have governments remain an influential bystander. The writer finds that it is difficult to imagine how an environment could survive on its own.
From the Paper "If the demand is there for a large market in house furniture, the neo-liberal state would allow for the consumption of whatever amount of lumber was necessary to create the furniture, even if that demand meant that an entire country were left forestless in order to provide those trees. Neo-Liberals would argue that those trees would be replaced afterward but as we can see from the current illustration we can deduce that that replacement would only come when it was absolutely necessary for the good of the corporations that need the trees."
Abstract This paper provides a proposal for a research experiment designed to assess evidence of "altruism" or "responsibility" towards homeless persons. In this paper, the author describes a background for the research, a purpose, including a hypothesis, a method for conducting the research and a description of the relevant variables for evaluating the research results. This proposal concludes with predictions and a conclusion. This is a research proposal; thus, research results are not available in this paper.
Abstract This paper explains that domestic abuse exists at every level of society and explores some of the financial and emotional reasons why women who suffer from abuse choose to remain in abusive relationships.
From the Paper ""If I've given my wife a black eye or broken arm I can take her to my family physician and keep it all hushed up." Domestic violence may be visible in the city, but it occurs as frequently in the green shaven lawns and silent neighborhoods in the suburbs. One of the reasons women hush-up themselves is for the type of green, the money, or the Benjamin they receive. Imagine being given hush money, and you are the victim. For instance, Julie, a housewife, who has two children and a stable economic lifestyle is less likely to report any type of abuse or act of domestic violence than Inga or Maria who have five children and a husband who makes zilch. National statistics show that blue collar workers or those at the poverty level are more apt to seek police after abuse. (Bender&Leone, 1996, p.45, 50)"
Abstract This paper presents an overview of the phenomenon of bullying in middle and high school students, including a literature review and a discussion of the cognitive and behavioral impact of bullying on students and learning. A summary and conclusion present some interventions to undermine bullying.
From the Paper "The phenomenon of bullying used to be viewed as a rite of passage fortunate or not. However when the U S Secret Service linked bullying as the motivation for a number of school shootings educators parents and others ..."
