Victim attractiveness as a function of helping and nonhelping

Male and female undergraduates (N = 128) were asked to evaluate a female victim or a male or a female potential helper-nonhelper, presented on 90-second films of a minor accident. The Byrne Interpersonal Judgment Scale was used as a measure of attraction. Results were as follows: (a) The recipient of help was devalued both when she was ignored by the male nonhelper and when she was helped by the female helper. (b) Helpers were more attractive than nonhelpers. Results are discussed in terms of positive attributions towards helpers, and negative attributions about the victim as a result of counternormative behavior toward her.