Overview
- Psychologists in Milan staged field trials on crowded trains with a woman who appeared pregnant to measure real-world helping behavior.
- Seat offers rose from about 38% in control trials to over 67% when a man dressed as Batman entered the car.
- Interviews showed 44% of those who gave up seats later said they did not notice the costumed figure.
- Women made up most helpers in both scenarios, accounting for 68% with Batman present and 65% without.
- The Università Cattolica study appears in npj Mental Health Research, with the lead author citing mindfulness-like effects and potential applications such as public art or social campaigns.