Environmental Psychology- Architecture(c)

Effects Of Urban Living On Social Behavior

Study by Milgram (1997): Friendliness

Undergraduates approached strangers on streets in both urban and rural areas. They extended their hands in friendly manner. Only 38.5% of the city dwellers reciprocated compared to 66% of the rural dwellers.

 

 

Study by Levine et al.(1994): Helping behavior investigated in 36 U.S cities:

 

Participants: A large sample, from 36 U.S cities.

Method: 6 different measures of helping investigated

1. Dropped pen: A pen was dropped deliberately  by an experimenter, who kept on walking ahead.
2. Hurt Leg: An experimenter walking with a limp and a leg brace dropped a pile of magazines.
3. Change for a quarter: The experimenter requests oncoming pedestrians for change.
4. Helping a blind person cross street: Experimenter wearing dark glasses and carrying a cane, waited for assistance to cross the road.
5. Lost letter: Percentage of dropped letters( which were addressed and stamped) compared with the percentage of letters that were eventually returned.

     6.United Way contributions: Per capita contributions to United Way calculated from 1990 records.

conclusion(result): Greater population density was found to be associated with LESS helping gestures. ( It maybe because of the fear for increasing crime rate in urban areas rather than an innate tendency to help less in urban dwellers)

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