Helping

So I'm actually studying Psychology at school right now and I love it! and YES quite frankly, I am analyzing you right now.

No, of course I don't do that!

But what I am interested in is learning why people do the things they do. So here's a fun fact about helping behavior.

 So, they had this study of people and how likely they would be to help. They had students of the Princeton divinity school as the participants, so they measured if religion affected the likelihood that people would help.

The researchers half of the people discuss plans after graduation and then were instructed to go over to another room to do another task. The other half discussed the parable of the good Samaritan and then were instructed as the other group were. On the way to the other lab, there was a conferderate (or cool way to say an insider on the job), who posed as if he needed help. I forgot what he needed but he looked and acted like he needed help. The REAL study was to see whether the people would go and help the individual out (Psychologists are REALLY sneaky fyi)

Along with religious and non-religious differences, there were also two different conditions. In both groups, the researchers told some to hurry and go to the next room because they were late, whereas in the other were told they had a lot of time.

So what happened? [drum roll...]

Sadly, evoking religious topics (good Samaritan story) DID NOT cause more people to help. However, a better predictor of whether or not people would help was if they had TIME to help.  Those in a hurry were less likely to help than those who were told they had time.

It may sound depressing to some, but it's a good insight on how we naturally think. BUT, it doesn't mean we have to be this way. Knowing this helps me to realize my thought process better and CHANGE it. Instead of thinking I don't have time to help people, I should think I always have time to help. Helping others is more important than anything really. So am I going to drop everything to help? Probably not. But by starting with the little things like helping to pick up books for a stranger even though I'm late for class or talking with a friend who needs some time even though I have a paper to write, just maybe I'll be able to change my way of thinking and not hesitate to help someone in need. Just maybe.

Just a little thought