Social psychological research isn't negative, and its message fosters compassion, not cynicism
Dennis T. Regan a1andThomas Gilovich a1 a1 Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
dtr1@cornell.edutdg1@cornell.edu
Abstract
Krueger & Funder (K&F) correctly identify work on conformity, obedience, bystander (non)intervention, and social cognition as among social psychology's most memorable contributions, but they incorrectly portray that work as stemming from a “negative research orientation.” Instead, the work they cite stimulates compassion for the human actor by revealing the enormous complexity involved in deciding what to think and do in difficult, uncertain situations.
