The most interesting point about the reading assignment in How We Decide written by Jonah Lehrer, was the importance of certain parts of the brain. Specifically the orbitofrontal cortex and the anterior cingulated cortex, and the relationship they have between emotion and actions. What is it about emotions that cause some people to act and others to do nothing in a serious or life threatening situation?
In recent years there have been many studies done on a loose term called the bystander effect. It refers to the phenomenon in which the greater the numbers of people present; the less likely people are to help a person in distress. (http://psychology.about.com/od/socialpsychology/a/bystandereffect.htm)
This research claims it is more common for people to stand by and do nothing than to act. That is a very scary thought. Put yourself in the victim’s shoes. According to Gavin De Becker in his book, “The Gift of Fear” he sums it up in this quote, "We, in contrast to every other creature in nature, choose not to explore-even to ignore-survival signs." That little tingling sensation that you feel when something is just not right and not acting on that feeling, could be the difference between life and death. The difference between people that act and people that do not act in a serious, possibly life threatening situation, is that they do not trust thier own instincts. Whether it is fear, dopamine, or an unidentified sixth sense, I always want to trust my instincts.
Hard to believe that the more people present, the less likely they are to help out someone. It seems that in this day and age people are afraid to help others for fear of getting a lawsuit, or they are just plain indifferent to others. A lack of empathy perhaps.
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