Are Victims Truly Worse Off in the Presence of Bystanders? Revisiting the Bystander Effect

Hanna Fromell, Daniele Nosenzo, Trudy Owens and Fabio Tufano

Revue économique, 2019, vol. 70, issue 6, 927-943

Abstract: Previous studies have shown that individuals are less likely to help a person in need when there are ?bystanders? present who can also offer help. We designed an experiment to re-examine this ?bystander effect? using modified dictator games. We find lower giving rates in the presence of bystanders, confirming the existence of a bystander effect. However, we also show that the recipient?s welfare is greater when bystanders are present, challenging the usual interpretation that the bystander effect is due to an erosion of prosocial values and social norms.

Keywords: bystander effect; bystander dilemma; diffusion of responsibility; dictator game; social norms (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Working Paper: Are Victims Truly Worse Off in the Presence of Bystanders? Revisiting the Bystander Effect (2017)
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