It applies because people see someone on the side of the road and think someone else will help them so they keep going. Now imagine the same scene but the dude is pushing the car by himself. It becomes more clear that no one is helping him making it more likely someone will stop
Not really. If someone is trying to flag someone down they're trying to get you personally, and unless there were many people on the road at the same time it will wouldn't apply. When most people see someone on the side of the road they usually don't want to pick them up because of stranger danger, not because they think someone else will.
If someone is pushing a car it's usually clear they're trying to actually get somewhere not trying to lure you and kill you.
Isn't bystander effect more " someone needs to do something but they all think someone else will so they won't " instead of just being cautious because of all the hitchhiker stories ?
If someone is pushing a car it's usually clear they're trying to actually get somewhere not trying to lure you and kill you.
Cool lesson but terrible example