Scientists have published new research showing a sharp rise in helpful behavior when a person dressed as Batman is present in public spaces.
The study, released in npj Mental Health Research, tested how an unexpected event could influence everyday interactions.
Researchers describe the finding as evidence that unusual or attention-grabbing moments can disrupt the mental autopilot people rely on during routine activities, which can increase prosocial behavior.
Scientists discover people behave better when Batman is around
Led by Francesco Pagnini, a clinical psychology professor at Università Cattolica in Milan, the team ran multiple experiments inside a busy subway car.
A woman who appeared visibly pregnant entered the train, and researchers observed how often passengers offered their seats. The scenario was then repeated with one key change: at the same moment the woman boarded, a man dressed as Batman walked in from another door.
Across 138 passengers, the presence of Batman produced a significant shift. Just over 37 percent of riders offered their seat without Batman present. When Batman appeared, that number rose to more than 67 percent. Women accounted for most of the seat offers in both versions of the experiment, at 65 percent without Batman and 68 percent with him.
Researchers also noted that 44 percent of people who gave up their seats said they did not consciously notice Batman at all. According to the study, this suggests that the offbeat event can still influence behavior even if it does not register fully.
Pagnini said the findings align with previous work connecting present-moment awareness to increased prosociality.
He added that the results could help shape future approaches for encouraging small acts of altruism, including public installations or social campaigns designed to break routine and draw attention to the moment.
This study comes just days after another from the American Psychological Association revealed that content on TikTok and Instagram actually “rots” your brain.
