ABC News in the U.S. occasionally runs a TV show called “What Would You Do?” that puts people in difficult situations to see how they’ll react. The host, John Quinones, then approaches the unknowing subjects to let them know that the situation was staged and debrief about why they acted as they did. It all amounts to a well-done, real-world experiment in social psychology.
The first video clip below features a situation involving a young girl approached by a stranger in a park. Watch how people nearby react and how the reaction changes, or doesn’t, when the nature of the stranger changes. The second video features a situation involving a guy who won’t leave a woman alone at a bar. (In the first video, by the way, only 12 of 50 people took action — sad commentary.)
David DiSalvo is a freelance writer and research wonk who has written and lectured on topics involving public health, air and water quality, branding, education, energy efficiency, healthcare and social marketing. More info 
1 Comment
October 28, 2009 at 12:22 am
I can’t see the video.