Living in a Social World
Psy 324: Advanced Social Psychology
Miami University
News from a Social Psychology
Perspective
These materials may be used for research, study, and education, but please credit the
authors and source.
Students Harrass Officer
in Distress: 
Authority
versus Altruism -- December 11, 1999. Analysis
by Scot Chappel, Pamela Davis, Amber Ruth, & Michele Scot
During the early morning hours of the second weekend
in December, Officer Shelly
Ellinger became trapped in her police cruiser after a drunk driver collided with her vehicle
in uptown Oxford, Ohio. Far from aiding this officer, Miami University students repeatedly
taunted and harassed Ellinger during the ordeal. Ironically, it was the drunk driver who
came to Officer Ellinger. Minutes later, other Oxford police officers arrived to assist
their partner and hold back the students who continued to harass the victim. This incident
raises questions about social
responsibilities and altruism in times of
crises. Attributions for the lack of
student assistance range from internal dispositions, such as apathy and hatred), to
external factors such as the intake of alcohol. [graphic courtesy of NCADI]
*Click Here for The Team's Final Analysis *
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Social
Psychology / Miami University (Ohio USA). Last revised: . This document has been
accessed times since 2 February, 2000. Comments
& Questions to R. Sherman
