Why the Difference?

Two dramatic incidents have us wondering when people will — and won’t — help someone in need. Here are what I think are some answers to that question.

Incident 1: Beachgoers Form Human Chain to Save Drowning Family

Beachgoers saw a family in trouble and after a short time 70 or so of them formed a human chain to bring them to safety.

Incident 2: Teens Videotaped And Mocked A Disabled Man Drowning

5 teen boys watch a man drown, take a video of the incident and make fun of him. None of them even called 911.

Psychologists have identified some of the key factors that need to be in place in order for us to offer help:

1. Lack of a skilled and extroverted role model: the beach had one key factor going for it: swimmer Jessica Simmons who said in her Facebook post:

So while the police did not act at the beach, there was a strong role model who made it clear that nothing was going to stop her from helping. There was no role model at the beach.

The oldest boy was the role model: the oldest boy was very involved in the taunting of the drowning man. The younger boys were probably using him as their model of what to do — and not do.

2. Lack of Empathy: we are more likely to help people when we can empathize with their predicament. We see from the fact that the teen boys taunted and laughed at the drowning man that there was no empathy for his predicament. Why not? Tough one. But there may have been marijuana involved, which could have dulled their sense of empathy.

3. Moral Perspective: perhaps this is a place to discuss Carol Gilligan’s contribution to our thoughts regarding morality: women — like Jessica Simmons — tend to be more oriented toward strengthening the connections between people more so than about what Kohlberg would suggest for the boys at the lake (their only concern is about whether they could get in trouble for what they’re doing).

Other reasons? I’d be happy to read your thoughts in the comments.

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