We may not live in a world of superheroes, but that doesn’t mean they can’t save the world anyway. That’s at least according to a recent study in npj Mental Health Research. The article, titled “Unexpected events and prosocial behavior: the Batman effect,” found that the mere presence of someone dressed up as Batman caused a statistically significant rise in altruistic, or “prosocial” behavior.
According to the study’s authors, a key element is the introduction of an unexpected event. To test the hypothesis that an appropriate, unexpected event could increase prosocial behavior, they observed 138 rides on the metro system of Milan, Italy. In each trial a woman who appeared to be pregnant boarded the train, but in some of the tests a confederate — dressed in a Batman costume — entered the train at the same time, through a different door. “Passengers were significantly more likely to offer their seat when Batman was present (67.21% vs. 37.66%, OR = 3.393, p < 0.001).”
Now, the authors are the first to admit these aren’t the most robust protocols to test their hypothesis. They refer to this research in the paper’s abstract as only “a quasi-experimental field study,” but they’re building on previous psychological work looking into prosocial behavior:
For instance, bystander research has demonstrated that situational features can substantially shape helping behavior3,4. Likewise, cues associated with romantic love have been shown to promote prosocial responses5. Building on such findings, more recent studies have examined how specific environmental triggers may directly encourage prosocial actions6,7,8. In particular, the focus of this study is on events that break the monotony of daily life, such as unexpected and novel occurrences, which may serve as catalysts for prosocial behaviors by fostering mindfulness and heightened awareness of the present moment. Novel and unexpected events can, in fact, trigger cognitive appraisal of one’s surroundings, as well as behavioral intentions9.
Essentially, while we’re engaging in our usual, quotidian activities, we tend to run on autopilot and fail to pay attention to others around us. But when our routine is broken by something we don’t see everyday, something odd, it snaps us out of our state of inattentiveness. We become mindful of our surroundings. That situational trigger then creates an opportunity to “enhance individuals’ sensitivity to the needs of others, potentially increasing prosocial behaviors.”
In this study, the experimenters specifically chose Batman, an iconic image people associate with justice and heroism, to prime bystanders to think altruistically and prosocially. It’s a slightly curious choice because of the diverse array of interpretations of the Caped Crusader, ranging from the extremely mild-mannered Adam West version to more grimdark and anti-heroic takes. It would be interesting to see how having the confederate dressed as more consistently noble superheroes like Superman or Spider-Man might impact the results.
Staged photograph by the study’s researchers
Of course, the experimenters chose a superhero for the express intent of influencing bystanders toward prosocial behaviors, raising the obvious question of what might happen if a similar kind of test were conducted with a confederate dressed as the Joker instead of Batman. Could the presence of a familiar villainous figure inspire anti-social behavior?
This study into the so-called “Batman effect” is a continuation of prior research “linking present-moment awareness to increased prosociality,” and is by no means conclusive. Still, the Batman effect suggests mindfulness combined with strong moral identity can have a powerful influence on human behavior. To quote Alfred Pennyworth from the Christopher Nolan film, Batman Begins:
“If you make yourself more than just a man, if you devote yourself to an ideal, and if they can’t stop you, you become something else entirely … a legend, Mr. Wayne.”
So maybe Batman doesn’t have to really exist if the mere legend of the Dark Knight can bring out a bit of superhero in us.
AIPT Science is co-presented by AIPT and the New York City Skeptics.
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