Living in a Social World
Psy 324: Advanced Social Psychology
Spring, 2000

News from a Social Psychology Perspective

Students Harass Officer in Distress:   Authority versus Altruism -- December 11, 1999

Analysis by
Scot Chappel, Pamela Davis
Amber Ruth, & Michele Scot

        Early in the morning, of the second weekend in December, Shelly Ellinger was struck by a drunk driver and trapped in her police cruiser. Her radio capabilities were disabled, thus leaving her stranded without assistance. Nearby Miami students instead of coming to her aid, taunted and jeered. The only person willing to help was the drunk driver that hit her.

        For such a serious subject most of the class reverted to humor to deal with the article's contents. We use humor as a device to reduce anxiety. Have you ever been so afraid that all you can do is laugh? Many of the students came up with anecdotes that have to involve their personal experiences with the police, such as getting parking tickets and getting caught sledding.

        Many of these anecdotes were not humorous, when asked what these students thought about the police, many responded more negatively. Several classmates shared that the role of the police officer is not that of peace - keeper and friend but that of a guard and warden. One factor that may have influenced the students' negative reaction was the officer's inability to retaliate.

        The class mentioned that if there were fewer people around when the accident happened that there would be someone more likely to help the officer. A bigger group translates to less responsibility for each person to help. Also mentioned, the crowd displaying such negative attributes made helping "similar to crossing a picket line." Those, who would under normal circumstances help, were influenced by the Bystander Effect.

        The majority of the class cited, the time of day, as a possible reason for the students' lack of intervention and assistance. The assumption was that if it were daylight, people would be obligated to help. In the darkness, said students were able to hide amongst their peers and become one of the many faces in the crowd, which allowed for more of the taunts and jeering.

        Another factor that played a major part was the consumption of alcohol by the students. The group dynamics, influenced by the alcohol, grew to be extremely intense which resulted in the students' negative behavior. Being under the influence also allowed inhibitions to be lowered and the considerations of others to be set aside, especially those of the police.

        The class also mentioned intoxication as another variable as to why no one offered assistance. As most students know drunk underage individuals are often located uptown for various reasons on the weekends. If someone would be arrested for underage consumption of alcohol they would be penalized quite heavily. Students were intimidated by this threat of legal action.

        The idea of an authoritarian figure in trouble may have influenced the lack of helping. It is possible that the role reversal of this magnitude may have confused and surprised these individuals. Instead of the officer helping someone the average citizen were called upon to aid the officer.

        Along with the role reversal within the incident the class discussion also focused on the public's perception of the police, and how this image of law enforcement officers has changed over the years. One student claimed that if there were a criminal situation, that she would be obliged to assist a police officer over complete stranger. This person holds the view of the police department that many of us were instilled with in our childhood days. When we were younger, we were taught to revere the police department for their duties, which were to serve and protect the community, and all who lived within it. For example, the class recalled being told as children to seek out an officer if ever lost or in trouble. This idea of creating bonds between citizens and the local police can also be seen in the construction of Safety Towns, mock communities in which young children are guided by an uniformed police officer to learn about traffic safety, 911 telephone calls, and other safety behaviors.

        Another view of the police, which emerged during class discussion, was that of a growing mistrust of the police department. This sentiment was infused in the example one student gave an increased willingness to aid an elderly lady versus a cop in trouble. Factors that may contribute to this apprehensive attitude towards the Oxford Police Department, and police in general, include media depictions of police misconduct, personal run-ins with the police, and negative accounts from peers.

        When it is believed that women are more likely than men to receive help in certain situations, the failure of students to assist Officer Shelly Ellinger in uptown Oxford may accurately be attributed to her status as a law enforcement officer. This example shows how the influence of certain occupations may dominate other characteristics, such as the gender or age of a victim, when deciding to practice altruistic behavior. Specific reasons students mentioned for why they possess a negative opinion of the police include unnecessary parking tickets, the banning of sledding at Pfeffer Park, and citing of noise violations at college parties. In order to combat this view and create friendlier bonds with the community, the Oxford Police Department has sponsored an annual Pig Roast  and has stationed mounted police to patrol uptown in order to promote community policing.

        Finally, we challenged the class to make a decision as to who they would help if they were in a situation where their assistance was necessary and why they made that decision. The options included a black man being mugged at gunpoint, an attractive female being assaulted, and an old lady whose groceries were being stolen after she had dropped them.

        Several female classmates responded by saying that they would have gone to the aid of the old lady because they did not feel competent in helping the other two victims without becoming victims themselves. They noted that as a smaller, less intimidating individual their time would be better served helping the old lady.

        Several male classmates chose the attractive female being assaulted. They responded by saying that her attack was more severe and damaging to her as an individual and they felt that the old lady could simply replace her groceries and not have the same kind of lasting effects that the young female would have following an assault. They also said, in regard to the black man being mugged at gunpoint, that if a weapon such as a gun would be involved then they would not involve themselves for fear of becoming another victim.

        Lastly, the appearances of the young female, the man, and the old lady were reportedly not factors that would influence our classmates' decisions. The effectiveness, of their personal intervention and involvement would sway them in their choice.