Baby Left in Car - Social Experiment

Uploaded by keenermarc on May 21, 2009

Observing the behavior of people who pass by a vehicle with a baby locked in the car. (Staged)

This would connect with both the Physical Aspect of Being and the Emotional. We know that, in several ways, the body and mind works to maintain the status quo or balance(homeoestasis) so it is interesting to see people who seemingly are uninvolved or unaffected by this situation get involved and become a part of the situation. What Motivates them? Their intrinsic cognitive motivation where they do it for their own purposes (intrinsic) and mentally recognize a threat (to someone else in this case) but they cognitively try to eliminate the threat or risk to the infant. Maybe, by recognizing a threat to another human being, especially one who cannot protect themselves, they themselves feel threatened and feel compelled, by instinct? to act? Who knows...

We've also learned that emotions are different from feelings. While emotions are more intense and momentary, feelings are longer-lasting and more general. The reactions these "advocates" have are straight emotional ones - intense states. Does it seem like the man was able to calm down more quickly than the woman, after they were debriefed? We learned that the male parasympathetic nervous system responds more quickly than a womans - that fight / flight system kicks in but can calm a man down more quickly.

So much to consider... now that we've been studying this course!!

Question: How do you think the actress playing the reckless mother felt during each scenario when she was confronted by such passionately angry people?? Would her fight/flight reflex kick in... and would you expect her experience to be as emotional as the people who confronted her?

ALSO! Consider as well the difference between people who act on their own and the people who were acting as a group! We've discussed the fact that people respond differently when they are on their own - they assume it's not their problem and that someone else will deal with it - but in a group you gain motivation because you have that reassurance that others support your belief. It's pretty cool to see three ordinary strangers work together to protect a child they feel is in danger!

Bystander Effect - people watch girl being abducted

Uploaded by keenermarc on Jan 29, 2009

When there's only one person around in a situation, they're much more likely to lend assistance to people in need, whether it's to help pick up something they're dropped or something more important like warn them they're about to step into traffic, etc.

When there's a group of people, though, no one acts. They all expect someone else will do it, so no one volunteers or pauses.

This is honestly a chilling video to watch. I don't have kids but it catches my breath when the two men catch on that something's going on and without any verbal communication between them, only similar body language (ie their mutual movement in that direction) it's amazing to me that, while they're both intently watching the man they are approaching, there is a single second when they Both launch into action, again without communicating anything verbally, but something triggers the same response from both men. How fascinating! It reminds me of wild lions in Africa who are following their prey but something simultaneously all animals involved and they leap to action.

I'm teaching a Social Psychology class right now and am really getting intrigued by the idea of how we send and receive communication without speaking. What is it about that situation that influenced those men though others around them didn't bother? And what was it in that single second where they both jump into a run? Was it that the man let the girl's arm go and started to run off himself? It's amazing to me.

See what you think? I showed this to a fellow teacher who has two daughters. It's scary to think that people would pass. The girl int his video was doing everything right - yelling over and over "You're not my dad! Someone help me!" It didn't do her any good, did it?

20/20 What Would You Do? The Obscene and the Obese

What Would You do? How would you react to a group making fun of someone for how they appear?

'What Would You Do?': Shopping While Black 2

Shopping While Black - Social Experiment

Uploaded by keenermarc on May 22, 2009

This experiment turns into a pretty emotional one. While some people are unaffected by the discrimination they observe, others are completely offended on behalf of the victim. One man who objects to her treatment can relate because of his own experiences, but other people (two different white women) seem completely offended by the idea that anyone would be treated in such a way.

Consider (though we haven't talked about this year) what is it about some people that makes them step forward on behalf of a stranger? Some people are content to witness something in their surroundings but are somewhat unaffected by it, while others are compelled to act. What is the motivating factor? Could it have anything to do with each person's place in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, maybe? The stronger ones who are higher in the chart, closer to self-actualization, may feel more comfortable stepping forward while others, less secure in themselves and their level of needs, stand back? If the basis for Maslow's needs is that people act to remove deficiencies or continually move up in the levels, what's the motivating factor when the person themselves are not in danger? Ie: If you want to move to step three (social needs) and therefore have attained safety / security, would you feel threatened personally if someone near you were in (a type of ) danger like this woman? Or maybe they're at the fourth level (esteem needs) and taking responsibility of their surroundings.

You may notice, as well, the three things necessary in Motivation: 1) Arousal (something triggers your attention), 2) Direction (a goal-oriented movement to act) and 3) Persistence (affecting the intensity and duraction of your action).

Maybe some people are just especially emotional - is it by their hormones (biological), their mental and emotional empathy for others(Cognitive), or maybe they are just weaker and more insecure than others and threatened by things they see (again... cognitive). What do you think?

You could also reflect on the facial expressions, as seen on the woman's face before the video plays. She's very effectively communicating her response.

Fivefold Teachings of Dawa Gyaltsen, Part 3 - Vision Is Mind