A strong earthquake has just rocked through a town leaving some buildings on the verge of collapse. People who were walking outside at the time of the earthquake need to decide - right now - whether or not they are going to help those potentially trapped in the buildings. Assuming that people's arousal level is high and they need to act quickly, which factor will most strongly influence whether they help those in need?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In emergency situations where people need to act quickly, feelings of empathy for the victims are most likely to influence whether or not they help. This is because empathy allows individuals to relate to and understand the pain and suffering of others, which can motivate them to take action to alleviate that suffering. A and D may also play a role, but empathy is the most immediate and powerful influence on a person's decision to help in such situations. B may actually have a negative effect, as the presence of bystanders may create diffusion of responsibility and decrease the likelihood that any one person will take action.

A Strong Earthquake Has Just Rocked Through a Town Leaving