How customers react to a woman vs. man crying in public | WWYD - Summary

Summary

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**Title:** "What Would You Do?" Social Experiment - Public Emotional Breakdowns

**Summary:**

In a social experiment for the TV show "What Would You Do?", two actors (a woman, Ariane, and a man, Austin) pretend to have emotional breakdowns in public (a clothing store) after being told a desired dress is out of stock. The experiment tests how bystanders react to:

1. **A woman crying in public**: Strangers offer comfort, advice, and emotional support.
2. **A man crying in public**: Initially, most customers keep their distance; however, some eventually offer reassurance and even a hug, challenging traditional notions of masculinity.

**Key Finding:** Despite some differences in response, the experiments show that many people are willing to offer kindness and support to strangers experiencing emotional distress in public.

Facts

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1. **Experiment Location**: The social experiment was conducted in Town and Country, Missouri.
2. **Scenario 1**: A woman (Ariane) was shopping for a dress for an anniversary dinner but found out her size was sold out.
3. **Response to Scenario 1**: Multiple customers comforted Ariane, offering help and emotional support.
4. **Scenario 2**: A man (Austin) was also shopping for a dress (for his girlfriend) but couldn't find his desired size.
5. **Initial Response to Scenario 2**: Initially, most customers did not offer comfort to Austin when he became emotional.
6. **Later Responses to Scenario 2**: Some customers eventually offered reassurance and comfort to Austin.
7. **Notable Interaction in Scenario 2**: A customer, Anthony Curtis, eventually offered Austin a hug and words of encouragement.
8. **TV Show Involvement**: The experiment was part of the TV show "What Would You Do" with John Quinones.
9. **Observation on Emotional Expression**: The experiment touched on societal norms around public displays of emotion, differing slightly between the male and female subjects.
10. **Location of the Experiment Within the Show**: The experiment was conducted in a store, using hidden cameras.