Chris- I wonder if it does contradict it or if it points to nuisances. To know that it contradicted the literature, wouldn't we first have to know how many strangers ignored helping vs those who did help? Also, and it has been years since grad school and reading that primary literature, but isn't ambiguity one of the primary factors in finding the effect. I do seem to remember that texts always mentioned that the correct behavior if you are in need of help in such situations was to provide specific instructions (and I think they instruct us to point to specific individuals when asking for assistance). Since the "robots" had such instructions wouldn't we predict greater helping in this situation? (Though I admit, I don't know what would or would not constitute ambiguity in a situation involving a robot!) Still, I think this is a great conversation starter! Tim _______________________________ Timothy O. Shearon, PhD Professor and Chair Department of Psychology The College of Idaho Caldwell, ID 83605 email: [email protected]
teaching: intro to neuropsychology; psychopharmacology; general; history and systems "You can't teach an old dogma new tricks." Dorothy Parker -----Original Message----- From: Christopher D. Green [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Sun 4/12/2009 11:03 PM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: [tips] tweenbots | kacie kinzer Now here's a social psychology experiment (of sorts) that seems to contradict a lot the nasty stuff about (lack of) bystander intervention. They put a small robot that could only roll in straight lines on the "mean streets" of New York City. Out of the top of the robot stuck a pennant stating its intended destination. As the robot got stuck (against curbs, in potholes, under benches, etc.) total strangers would come along, read the pennant, extricate the robot from its predicament, and point it in the right direction. Apparently, they didn't lose a single robot. http://www.tweenbots.com/ Chris -- Christopher D. Green Department of Psychology York University Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 Canada 416-736-2100 ex. 66164 [email protected] http://www.yorku.ca/christo/ ========================== --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected]) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
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