What was a key focus of Piliavin's aim in studying helping behavior?

Piliavin's aim in studying helping behavior specifically centered on how situational factors influence bystander interventions in emergencies. One of the central themes of his research was the concept of modeling, where he investigated how the actions of one person can influence the behavior of others, particularly in terms of whether individuals would help someone in distress based on someone else's response to the situation. This focus on modeling aligns with the broader idea of social learning theory, suggesting that individuals observe and imitate the behavior of others in social contexts. By examining how witnessing a helping behavior affects other potential helpers, Piliavin aimed to deepen the understanding of the dynamics of social interactions in emergency scenarios.