What’s Stopping You From Helping Others?
- Slice of Psych
- Aug 10, 2021
- 3 min read
There’s a lot of people out there in the news who are asking for help and there are also numerous of people fortunately who gives help. Although, how about the others from the other side of the spectrum, right?
1. The Bystander Effect
When humans are in an emergency situation with a great number of people , humans are less likely to act and help because the responsibility is huge or they simply dont want to get involved. Diffusion of responsibility happens when a task is shared between a group of people.
The bystander effect is also known as the Genovese Syndrome. So it was named after Genovese, a 28 year old murder victim. The Kitty Genovese Case goes like this. Around 2:30 am on March 13, 1964, Kitty was on her way home from her work. A man with a knife who was identified as Winston Moseley approached Kitty, so Kitty ran toward the entrance of her apartment, but then Winston attacked and stabbed her while she was screaming for help. Her neighbor, Robert, heard it and yelled at the attacker to leave Kitty alone causing Winston to flee the crime scene. After 10 minutes, Kitty was lying in front of the door of her apartment. Winston returned, stabbed her again, raped her, and stole her money. Sadly, on her way to the hospital, she died in the ambulance.
So what's the tea? There are 38 witnesses, Travs. Some said, they didn’t want to get involved that's why they didn't call the police.
2. The Psychic Numbing
The empathy and willingness to help decreases when there’s an increase in the number of victims. This explains why others ignore mass sufferings.
For example, the issue of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque before. In a television broadcast, he congratulated his fellow Filipinos because the expected projection of the experts wherein there would be 40, 000 cases by the end of the month didn't occur as there were 36, 438 recorded confirmed cases (only -_-).
Listen HERE for more.
3. Apathy
It is the feeling of not feeling, aka the emotionless emotion but it can also be an attitude like being passive and indifferent to others. As I said sa episode 3, it occurs on so many disorders but it can also appear by itself. It could happen because they are reminded of their previous failures and they have this mindset that small changes won't make any difference.
4. False Sense of Inefficacy (Pseudoinefficacy)
False sense of inefficacy refers to the idea that what you do won't matter because of the fact that you will be able to help only a portion; hence you are less willing to help that's why it feels like it is not worthwhile.
5. Negative bias and Stereotypes
Negative events and first expressions have a greater impact on our brains. Humans have the tendency not only to register negative stimuli but to also dwell on them, therefore we recall insults better than praise. It is the negative things that grab our attention. This bias might also lead us to expect the worst in other people that are in a close relationship.
Another example, gender stereotyping. The characteristics and roles of male and female individuals are still being put outside or inside a box. Male victims of rape are being invalidated on social media or often being told thet they are lucky because boys and men are expected to be strong and tough so there's no need to be emotional and cry baby.
In conclusion, helping others depends from person to person, situation, and intentions. Don't be disheartened because the act of being in service to others can be shown in many way since helping doesn't need to be grand always.
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