Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/200418 
Year of Publication: 
2017
Series/Report no.: 
CeDEx Discussion Paper Series No. 2017-15
Publisher: 
The University of Nottingham, Centre for Decision Research and Experimental Economics (CeDEx), Nottingham
Abstract: 
Previous studies have shown that individuals are less likely to help a person in need when there are "bystanders" present who can also offer help. We designed an experiment to re-examine this "bystander effect" using modified dictator games. We find lower giving rates in the presence of bystanders, confirming the existence of a bystander effect. However, we also show that the recipient's welfare is greater when bystanders are present, challenging the usual interpretation that the bystander effect is due to an erosion of prosocial values.
Subjects: 
bystander effect
bystander dilemma
diffusion of responsibility
dictator game
socialnorms
JEL: 
C92
D64
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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