levine

• What is the popular hypothesis regarding helping behavior in cities?

  Helping declines as city size increases
• What type of study did Levine conduct?

  A cross-cultural study
• What was one of Levine's aims in the study?

  To see if helping varies across cultures
• What was the result regarding helping behavior across situations?

  There was a general tendency across situations
• What was the result regarding helping behavior across nations?

  There was a large variance between nations
• What was the third aim of Levine's study?

  To identify community characteristics affecting help
• What method was used in Levine's study?

  • Field experiment
  • Observation
  • Data collected by students and volunteers
• How many cities were involved in the study?

  23 cities
• What was the population requirement for the cities in the study?

  Populations of 230,000 or more
• What were the conditions for measuring helping behaviors?

  In main city centers during business hours
• What was the first helping scenario in the study?

  Dropped pen
• How was helping defined in the dropped pen scenario?

  Calling back or picking up the pen
• How many participants were approached in the dropped pen scenario?

  424 participants
• What was the second helping scenario in the study?

  Hurt leg
• How was helping defined in the hurt leg scenario?

  Offering to help or beginning to help
• How many participants were approached in the hurt leg scenario?

  493 participants
• What was the third helping scenario in the study?

  Helping a blind person cross the street
• How was helping defined in the blind person scenario?

  Informing the experimenter the light was green
• How many trials were conducted in the blind person scenario?

  281 trials
• What factors were recorded during the experiment?

  Population size, economic indicator, cultural values
• What does PPP stand for?

  Purchasing Power Parity
• What was the relationship between PPP and helping behavior?

  Lower PPP cities tend to be more helpful
• How were countries rated on individualism-collectivism?

  On a 10 point scale from experts
• What cultural script influences helping behavior in Latin America and Spain?

  Simpatia or simpatico
• What does the term 'simpatia' refer to?

  Amiable social qualities and friendliness
• What was measured to assess the pace of life in cities?

  Walking speed of pedestrians
• What were the top two most helpful countries according to the study?

  Brazil and Costa Rica
• What were the least helpful countries according to the study?

  New York City and Kuala Lumpur
• What are the conclusions drawn from Levine et al's study?

  • Helping behavior varies across cultures
  • Less economically productive cities may have traditional values
  • Spanish and Portuguese cultures emphasize friendliness
  • Slower cities tend to be more helpful
  • Individualism-collectivism is not related to helping