Social BehaviorNCT06481748
Unleashing Unpredictability: The Batman Project and Its Impact on Prosocial Behavior and Awareness
An observational study of Social Behavior, run by Catholic University of the Sacred Heart.
Trial summary
The proposed study is an observational investigation that aims to examine the impact of an unexpected and unusual event on prosociality within the Milan metro. The event is the simple presence, in the underground car, of a student wearing a Batman suit. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 99 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Social Behavior
- What is being tested?
- Batman
- How many people
- 68 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 21 Jun 2024to 8 Oct 2024
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 99 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: -All metro passengers present at the time of the experiment are potential participants.
Who may be able to join
- Being a passenger in the metro
Who cannot join
- Metro too crowded
- Seats available
About this study
Official title: The Batman Project: Can Unpredictability Foster Prosocial Behaviour Through Increased Awareness?
The proposed study is an observational investigation that aims to examine the impact of an unexpected and unusual event on prosociality within the Milan metro. The event is the simple presence, in the underground car, of a student wearing a Batman suit. The main objective is to assess whether or not the presence of the unusual event influences prosocial behaviour towards a student pretending to be pregnant. During the study, the student, equipped with a sponge prosthesis to simulate a pregnancy will board the underground. She will be asked not to interact with anyone, but to simply look at her phone. In the experimental condition, an individual dressed as Batman will enter the carriage (through a different door than the one used by the student). In the control condition, on the other hand, no one will show up in costume. In addition, the observer will try to gather information on the reason for this prosocial behaviour, noting down the answer given.
- Conditions
- Social Behavior
- Being tested
- Batman
- Keywords
- mindfulness, attention, Batman, awareness, prosociality
- Medical subject headings
- Social Behavior
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
BatmanOther
The investigators foresee several teams engaged throughout the day to ensure greater variability, each team will consist of three students for the experimental condition (Batman; "pregnant girl", observer) and two students for the control condition ("pregnant girl" and observer), plus the presence in both cases of a member of the research team. The 'pregnant girl' will be properly prepared and equipped with a sponge prosthesis to simulate pregnancy. In addition, the subject dressed as Batman must be prepared to play the role in a natural and non-invasive manner. During this phase, the student observers collaborating in the study will carefully record the behavior of the passengers in the underground.
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Prosocial behavior
A person in the metro leave their spot to the pregnant lady
Measured: 5 minutes
Secondary outcomes (1)
Awareness
A person dressed as batman enters the metro
Measured: 5 minutes
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted1 Jul 2024
- Study start21 Jun 2024 (estimated)
- Primary completion8 Sep 2024 (estimated)
- Study completion8 Oct 2024 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Social BehaviorStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Ecologic or community
- Time perspective
- Other
- Enrolment
- 68 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Catholic University of the Sacred Heart
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Francesco Pagnini, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06481748
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 33/24
- Status last verified
- Jun 2024
- First submitted
- 20 Jun 2024
- Last updated
- 1 Jul 2024
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: No identifying data will be stored.
Publications
Pagnini F, Grosso F, Cavalera C, Poletti V, Minazzi GA, Missoni A, Bogani L, Bertolotti M. Unexpected events and prosocial behavior: the Batman effect. Npj Ment Health Res. 2025 Nov 3;4(1):57. doi: 10.1038/s44184-025-00171-5.
PubMed 41184421
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 1 Jul 2024. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Batman Project: Can Unpredictability Foster Prosocial Behaviour Through Increased Awareness?
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06481748
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 33/24
- Conditions
- Social Behavior
- Keywords
- mindfulness, attention, Batman, awareness, prosociality
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Unknown status
- Enrolment
- 68 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Catholic University of the Sacred HeartUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 21 Jun 2024 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 8 Sep 2024 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 8 Oct 2024 (estimated)
- First posted
- 1 Jul 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The proposed study is an observational investigation that aims to examine the impact of an unexpected and unusual event on prosociality within the Milan metro. The event is the simple presence, in the underground car, of a student wearing a Batman suit. The main objective is to assess whether or not the presence of the unusual event influences prosocial behaviour towards a student pretending to be pregnant. During the study, the student, equipped with a sponge prosthesis to simulate a pregnancy will board the underground. She will be asked not to interact with anyone, but to simply look at her phone. In the experimental condition, an individual dressed as Batman will enter the carriage (through a different door than the one used by the student). In the control condition, on the other hand, no one will show up in costume. In addition, the observer will try to gather information on the reason for this prosocial behaviour, noting down the answer given.
Study design
- Observational model
- Ecologic or community
- Time perspective
- Other
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 99 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- -All metro passengers present at the time of the experiment are potential participants.
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Being a passenger in the metro
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Metro too crowded
- Seats available
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| BatmanThe investigators foresee several teams engaged throughout the day to ensure greater variability, each team will consist of three students for the experimental condition (Batman; "pregnant girl", observer) and two students for the control condition ("pregnant girl" and observer), plus the presence in both cases of a member of the research team. The 'pregnant girl' will be properly prepared and equipped with a sponge prosthesis to simulate pregnancy. In addition, the subject dressed as Batman must be prepared to play the role in a natural and non-invasive manner. During this phase, the student observers collaborating in the study will carefully record the behavior of the passengers in the underground. | Other | – |
Primary outcome
Prosocial behavior
Time frame: 5 minutes
A person in the metro leave their spot to the pregnant lady
1 secondary outcome
Awareness
Time frame: 5 minutes
Results and safety
Results are not available in the source record.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 1 Jul 2024.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 41184421Pagnini F, Grosso F, Cavalera C, Poletti V, Minazzi GA, Missoni A, Bogani L, Bertolotti M. Unexpected events and prosocial behavior: the Batman effect. Npj Ment Health Res. 2025 Nov 3;4(1):57. doi: 10.1038/s44184-025-00171-5.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. No identifying data will be stored.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Social Behavior, run by Catholic University of the Sacred Heart.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 Jul 2024. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Results are not available in the source record.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Prosocial behavior (time frame: 5 minutes). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06481748, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 1 Jul 2024.