Assignment #4 – Helping Assignment
Instructions: I want you to write about two experiences you had where YOU a). helped and b). failed to help someone else. For downloadable instructions, click Assignment #4 – Helping Assignment Worksheet
a). For the experience in which you provided help, I want you to write down six things (3 points each):
1). Describe the event in which you helped (What was the emergency or situation? Where was it? When was it? Who was involved?).
2). Describe Step One of the helping model and how it was applicable to the event in which you helped: Noticing (How did you come to notice that help was needed?).
3). Describe Step Two of the helping model and how it was applicable to the event in which you helped: Interpreting (How did you interpret this as a situation that needed help?).
4). Describe Step Three of the helping model and how it was applicable to the event in which you helped: Responsibility (How did you decide that YOU were the one responsible for providing help?).
5). Describe Step Four of the helping model and how it was applicable to the event in which you helped: Skills (Describe the skills needed to provide help, and why you think you had those skills or that ability, especially if someone else might have been in a better position to help?).
6). Describe Step Five of the helping model and how it was applicable to the event in which you helped: Decision (Describe what finally made you decide to help. Also let me know how your help turned out! Did things work out well? Badly? Unknown?).
b). For the experience in which you DID NOT provide help, I want you to complete just one more question (7 points total):
7). Describe the event (though briefly) and tell me at which step (One through Five) you failed to provide help and why you failed to help. You can discuss all five steps, but if you stopped at – for example – Step Three (Responsibility), then you don’t need to go any further! Note that in the past I have students tell me they always help, an answer that I WILL NOT accept (Saying there is never a time when you failed to help someone would imply that you empty your bank account for every potential person who asks for money, pull over to help every motorist broken down on the side of the road, help everyone in a grocery store that can't find the item they want, even if you don't work there, etc. There is at least one time when everyone fails to provide help!)
**SEE EXAMPLE ATTACHED**
Helping Assignment (Assignment #4) – A good example from a prior student.
1). Describe the event (What was the emergency or situation? Where was it? When was it? Who was involved?).
A few years ago as I preparing myself for a philosophy exam, I encountered a traumatic emergency in which I was later informed that a person lost his/her life since he/she failed to put on his/her seatbelt. Typically, when I am preparing for an exam, I found it more effective to study in an isolated area, such as the hallways at MDC-Wolfson campus. As I was attempting to memorize key points of Chapter 5, I allowed my eyes to wonder looking at the ambiance around me. And I was looking outside of the over-sized window’s, I watched as a Jitney bus (very frequent bus system in the Downtown area) collided with a hotel bus. The impact and the force of both buses were immensely strong that both buses overturned multiple times leaving passengers upside down. And with each turn, each bus compressed inward leaving a smaller surface area for each passenger.
2). Describe Step One of the helping model and how it was applicable to the event in which you helped: Noticing (How did you come to notice that help was needed?).
I was neither rushed nor in a group environment, but instead, I had arrived to my classroom 2 hours before the corresponding time of arrival and decided to sit in an isolated hallway to maximize studying time. Similar to the finding reported by Darley and Batson as well as Latane and Darley, I noticed the emergency by having a significant amount of time and since I was isolated I was able to notice the emergency and report my finding immediately, respectively.
3). Describe Step Two of the helping model and how it was applicable to the event in which you helped: Interpreting (How did you interpret this as a situation that needed help?).
As this unfortunate event continued to unfold, I can recall hearing people as well children crying out for help, looking at the condition of both buses, attempting to understand for a small moment the reasoning behind both bus drivers traveling at significant speeds, and trying to understand which bus driver disregarded the red light signal. And in this very moment, as my mind was spiraling with excessive questions and attempting to register this very unfortunate event, I realized that pluralistic ignorance and the concept of informational social influence, played a key role in the inability of people not acting (momentarily the case with me) and ultimately, not rending help. 4). Describe Step Three of the helping model and how it was applicable to the event in which you helped: Responsibility (How did you decide that YOU were the one responsible for providing help?).
As more individuals approached this unforeseen event, I realized that no one was rending help and to some degree, I understand the reasoning behind their inability to help. While more individuals became aware of the event, the less likely these individuals rendered help (bystander effect). But after a while, I realized that despite the notion that I lacked a license to medically render assistance (I was neither a nurse, doctor, or EMT), I was responsible to get help by calling 911, reporting the event, and pleading to the first responder to send ambulances immediately to the scene. 5). Describe Step Four of the helping model and how it was applicable to the event in which you helped: Skills (Describe the skills needed to provide help, and why you think you had those skills or that ability, especially if someone else might have been in a better position to help?).
After very quickly weighing the positive and negative consequences of helping, I realized that I needed to do what is right and help these individuals. While I had the knowledge that individuals in trauma cannot be moved since they may risk a bigger injury, I can help calm them down by telling them it was going to be alright and that help is on its way. While I lacked the skills to render medical assistance, I did possess the skills to calm these individuals, call for immediate help (911), and stay with them until the ambulance(s) arrived. 6). Describe Step Five of the helping model and how it was applicable to the event in which you helped: Decision (Describe what finally made you decide to help. Also let me know how your help turned out! Did things work out well? Badly? Unknown?).
My final decision was to remain at the scene, help calm these individuals, call for immediate assistance, and ultimately help them to the best of my ability. Risking the fact that I missed my exam and may encounter the fact that my professor would not understand my absence, I knew that I needed to render help and in doing so made the correct choice in my perspective. But my professor was understanding and let me have access to the material I missed. Of course, the person did die (as I mentioned in #1), which was very sad. But I am still glad I stayed at the scene to provide assistance as best I could (even if only as a calming presence).
7). Describe the event (though briefly) and tell me at which step (One through Five) you failed to provide help and why you failed to help. You can discuss all five steps, but if you stopped at – for example – Step Three (Responsibility), then you don’t need to go any further!
I was walking across campus when I saw this guy running across the grass. He had on a backpack, so it wasn’t like he was out for a jog. I figured he saw FIU ticketing his car and he was trying to get there before the ticket was written. He must have tripped on something, though, because he went tumbling head-over-heels on the grass, coming to a stop a good five feet from where he tripped He just laid there, not moving. I started to go see if he needed help, but I hesitated. I was late for class and needed to get there quick, so I took a few steps toward my building. Then I remembered I was supposed to be thinking about a helping topic for my social psych class, and it made me stop and think. But I didn’t think it was my responsibility to help, so I stood there, debating whether to help. I think I failed at that responsibility step (Step Three). I started going to my class, but I did turn to look at him one last time. He had leaped to his feet and was running again, so no harm no foul on my part. I still think about that a lot, though.
