Researchers say the unexpected interruption of routine forces people to be more aware of their surroundings, leading to conscious, prosocial behaviour.

Credits: Unsplash; Author: Harm van de Ven;

The field study showed that in the control setting, 37.66 percent of passengers gave up their seats, and with Batman present, the number rose to 67.21 percent. The study suggests that unpredictability, like seeing Batman on the metro, can trigger kindness in public settings.