People living in dense, urban settings are less likely to help others because they are constantly being bombarded with stimulation and thus keep to themselves to avoid being overwhelmed.

New York University

- Environment
- Residential Mobility
- Number of Bystanders (Bystander Effect)
- Effects of Media

Situational Determinants of Prosocial Behavior

Aronson, E., Wilson, T. D., Akert, R. M., & Sommers, S. R. (2018). Revel Social Psychology (10th ed.). Pearson.

Revel Social Psychology

The bystander effect is a counter-intuitive phenomenon wherein an increase in the number of witnesses to an emergency or crime corresponds with a decreased likelihood that any single individual will attempt to assist the victim.

Bystander Effect

People are more likely to help others in a variety of ways after being exposed to media promoting prosocial behavior (i.e playing a prosocial video game or listening to a song with prosocial lyrics)

Effects of Media on Prosocial Behavior

Urban Overload Hypothesis

Long-time residents of a certain place are more likely than new arrivals to engage in prosocial behavior as they feel more of a stake in their community.

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