"What they found was that when Batman got on the train, the pregnant mum was offered a seat more than two-thirds of the time, versus just under 38% of the time when Batman wasn't there. Notably, 44% of those who offered their seat in the experimental condition later reported not having seen Batman at all, so why the increase in good behaviour?"
"The study, carried out by the Department of Psychology at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan, suggests that unexpected events can promote prosociality, even without conscious awareness, with implications for encouraging kindness in public settings. The report authors say that the "Batman effect" supports the hypothesis that disruptions to routine can heighten awareness of one's surroundings and enhance sensitivity to the needs of others, ultimately promoting prosocial actions."
Observers tested commuter responses on the Milan metro by recording how often passengers offered seats when a pregnant woman boarded, then repeating the scenario with a person dressed as Batman boarding through another door. The pregnant woman received a seat more than two-thirds of the time with Batman present, versus just under 38% without him. Forty-four percent of those who offered a seat in the experimental condition later reported not having seen Batman. Unexpected, attention-grabbing events shifted people from isolated commuter behavior toward greater awareness of others and increased prosocial actions.
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