Why do some people take time to help? While others don’t? 

To answer these questions, we often default to a simplistic idea of “good” or “bad” individuals. But the reality is more complicated. The truth shows our hyper-busy culture can undermine mental health by discouraging the human urge to support our colleagues, friends and even family.   

In 1973, two psychologists John Darley and Daniel Batson staged an experiment which shines a light on this issue. Forty students were invited to meet with researchers. They were asked to prepare a presentation about the Good Samaritan. In this Biblical parable, a man has been beaten and lies bleeding by the side of the road. Two people pass by before the Good Samaritan stops to help. 

As part of the experiment, the students were told to walk across campus and deliver their talk to a group of school children. Here’s the evil genius part. These people were studying to be priests at Princeton Theological Seminary. I guess the researchers were hoping they’d understand the value of helping those in need. 

The route took them down a narrow alleyway. The trick: a confederate of the researchers lay groaning in pain on the floor obstructing their way, clearly in need of assistance. How many of the would-be priests would stop to help? The results were surprising. 

Different personality types didn’t impact their decision. What mattered was how much they felt they were in a hurry. The researchers had briefed some participants that they had plenty of time, while others were told they were “already late”. 

63% of participants who thought they were early for the presentation stopped to help the stranger. 

Only 10% of the late participants paused to lend a hand. 

Just reflect on that for a moment: 9 out of 10 seminary students, on their way to deliver a lecture on the Good Samaritan, stepped over a prostrate human being to get to their meeting on time. In their heart these were good people. But when the clock was ticking loudly in their heads, they were very Bad Samaritans. 

The insight for our organisations? Culture matters. A lot. If your employees are constantly climbing a mountain of unread emails, under pressure to deliver the latest tick-box report, or on a daily treadmill of MS Teams meetings, don’t expect them to take time to care for their colleagues. 

Character counts, but culture is the clincher. It transforms our behaviour, and not always for the better. It’s worth asking. How busy are you? How busy are your teammates? And, what’s the human cost?