Researchers led by Professor Francesco Pagnini found that seeing the character Batman increases an individual’s propensity towards prosocial behaviors. The study, conducted on a Milan metro train, discovered that unexpected events can break us out of autopilot and encourage us to pay attention to those around us.
Prosocial behavior is acting in favor of others. In new research focused on the positive side of life, Pagnini’s team investigated how surprises like seeing Batman bring people into the moment and make them consider those around them. They observed 138 passengers on a subway train, where an experimenter dressed as Batman was introduced to the scene.
The results showed that 67.21% of passengers offered their seats to pregnant women when the Batman character entered, compared to just 37.66% in the control tests without him. When interviewed after the experiment, 44% of those who offered their seats reported not noticing the Batman costume.
The study suggests that unusual events can prompt acts of kindness in public settings at a higher rate than expected. The findings also indicate that present-moment awareness and mindfulness may play a role in increasing social responsiveness. This research is unique because it highlights how situational interruptions alone can change behavior, contrasting with traditional mindfulness interventions that require active engagement.
The paper, “Unexpected Events and Prosocial Behavior: The Batman Effect,” was published on November 3, 2025, in NPJ Mental Health Research.
Source: https://thedebrief.org/psychologists-report-that-just-seeing-batman-is-enough-to-drive-prosocial-behaviors