The Batman effect boosts kindness on public transport
Passengers were more likely to offer seats to a pregnant woman when Batman was present, a study finds.
Why it matters
- Unexpected events can increase prosocial behavior.
- Simple interventions may encourage kindness in public spaces.
- Findings suggest how to design public spaces to foster cooperation.
By the numbers
- 67.21% of passengers offered seats with Batman present.
- 37.66% offered seats without Batman.
- 44% of those who offered seats didn’t see Batman.
The big picture
- Unexpected events disrupt routines, increasing awareness.
- Public spaces could use such disruptions to promote kindness.
What they're saying
- Some suggest Batman’s presence increased situational awareness.
- Others note social contagion effects may play a role.
Caveats
- Study conducted in Milan; cultural factors may limit generalizability.
- Batman’s symbolic meaning might influence results.
What’s next
- Future studies could test other unexpected figures or events.
- Researchers could explore long-term effects in different contexts.