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

Fromell, Hanna; Nosenzo, Daniele; Owens, Trudy; Tufano, Fabio

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.

Citation

Fromell, H., Nosenzo, D., Owens, T., & Tufano, F. (2019). Are Victims Truly Worse Off in the Presence of Bystanders? Revisiting the Bystander Effect. Revue Economique, 70(6), 927-944. https://doi.org/10.3917/reco.706.0927

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 29, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Nov 1, 2019
• Publication Date: 2019-11
• Deposit Date: Feb 12, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 2, 2020
• Journal: Revue économique
• Print ISSN: 0035-2764
• Electronic ISSN: 1950-6694
• Publisher: Presses de Sciences Po
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 70
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 927-944
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3917/reco.706.0927
• Keywords: General Economics, Econometrics and Finance
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3950605
• Publisher URL: https://www.cairn.info/revue-economique-2019-6-page-927.htm?ref=doi