Category: Let's talk
Recently a bbc programme conducted an experiment to test the empathy of men/women. They hired an 8 year old actress, fitted her with a hidden camera, and left her outside a shop in central London. During the hour they left her there, and she appeared slightly distraught during that time, 46 women stopped to enquire that she was ok. However, only two men stopped, and one of those was with a woman. Some of the women were so concerned about a young girl like that being left on her own on a street, that they went back several times to check on her. When asked by the producers why they hadn’t stopped, several men said that they didn’t stop, because they were afraid of being accused of being a pedifile. However, when asked why they didn’t alert the authorities of this young girl apparently having been abanadoned on the street, or why they didn’t ask a woman to go and check on her to make sure she was ok, they said that they never thought of doing that. So question is this, and this goes to both guys and girls, if you saw a young child apparently alone on the street, would you stop? Or would you too have a fear of being branded for doing so. Or, as guys are apparently less empathic than women, would you even think of stopping?
i probably wouldn't stop as it would be more than likely to be thrown in your face. besides after living in London you learn not to get involved. Unfortunate but a true fact. it's a sad thing to say.
I would definetly stop!!! There are so many horrible things happening to kids these days and I would feel guilty if something happened, because I didn't stop, to the one that I encountered on the street!!!
*sexy*
Of course I'd stop. No doubt about it!
yes but it's not likely that a woman would be accused of something. it's to risky otherwise.
Let's face it. A lot of people just do not know what to do is such situations even though it may be common sense. A lot of people are just afraid of getting involved in those situations either because they fear what might happen or they just don't feel comfortable getting involved with strangers.
Having a little girl myself, the answer is easy. Of course I'd stop!
Absolutely I would. But I think that off-hand mention about men being afraid of being thought pedophiles if they stopped is interesting. While I'm not sure about the pedophile thing, I do think that we can't automatically assume that the fact that men stop less often necessarily means that they have less empathy. Maybe they feel just as bad and are just as worried, but there might be additional concerns that stop them from showing it. Maybe, if you are man by himself seen talking to a little girl who is by herself, some people really would think you are up to no good. Maybe you'd think that the little girl wouldn't trust you since she most likely has been told not to talk to any "strange men"? It could be something simple as that.
yes i would stop there is no question about that.
I'd stop, but I've often been told that I approach city life with a rural attitude, which isn't always a good thing. Also, I second Susanne's point, I don't think a different response from men indicates that they don't notice. There's definitely other influences at work.
ah but notice, all the women who have responded have said that .. yes, they would stop, all the guys have said that they wouldn't.
I think some of this may have to do with perceived gender role. E.g. if you saw a car stuck on the highway with its emergency lights on, would you stop? I am 90% positive that a higher ratio of guys to women would say "yes" they are expected to help with engine parts or gas or tire problems and would be more likely to stop whilst women e.g. might be afraid of being attacked in such circumstances. So I think some of this comes down to those gender role differences as far as social perception of duty is concerned. That being said I'm sure men and women are different and I'm not sure if I would stop or not. I thnk so but it really depends on the details of the circumstances.
Cheers
-B
but wildebrew there is a vast difference between a car and a child! What you're saying makes sense to a degree, however I am positively certain I know nothing about cars where at least a guy can ask a child if he/she needs help. hmmm having said that I know some guys who look on their cars as their children *grins*
I don't see any reason why I would not stop. If there was a child on the street stranded I would stop and make sure they are ok. If they need help I would do what I can do to help.
Matthew
I would definitely stop. It's the maternal instinct, I guess. i hate to see kids sad or in trouble, and I know how frightening it can be to feel lost and alone and helpless.
SB, I certainly did not suggest that one is equally as important as the other but I was suggesting that so far gender roles have made men feel obligated to stop heping highway accidents or people who are stranded and women are expected to help lost children. I'm not sure if this is a correct assumption but somehow I'd feel instinctively (or because of society) that if I were driving I'd be expected to stop and help out people in need on the highway, if I walked by a child I'm not sure if I would be expected of anything but I agree that sexual harrassment charges and the way men approaching children may be misinterpreted might have something to do with the scenario. Definitely not an excuse and certainly not a good one for the male part of the population <grin>.
Cheers
-B
yes to many times something has been done, assistants rendered and it gets thrown back at you so no thanks.
I would deffinitly stop, and then alirt employies
Actually, I myself would stop, no matter what the risk. I'v always been the type of person to help in any way I possibly could.
Of course and I would try to find that lesser spotted species known as the police..
I would hope that the people who wouldn't stop would at least alert the authorities. I would certainnly alert the authorities so that at least they would know I'm concerned for the kid and not hurting him/her. I would also draw attention to myself and the child so that there would be lots of people around to see that I was concerned, not suspicious. If we were alone, I would call the police and say that I found a child standing outside a store. I'd want there to be some sort of record of my actions.