I can about guarantee you that a lot of posters are going to say they would hit the girl, because they think it makes them look more macho, I am sorry it just doesn't work out that way. To hit the girl you actually need to be more of a aggressive personality type then a courageous personality type. A brave person will brace themselves against what they think might be coming. A aggressive personality type when cornered will indeed attack.

However even a aggressive personality type will threaten first before carrying out a threat, and in that split second if that child doesn't advance, or that child isn't blocking an escape root. That punch will absolutely never come. The only way the punch comes is if that child is inside the persons immediate space, or performing an act that is indeed purely hostile.

The shows staff did a pretty damn good job looking out for the girls safety. She was far enough away not to be a totally intolerable threat, and she waited just long enough to start screaming so as to not make that act itself into a intolerable threat. The only way that child would have ended up getting hit is if someone were entirely out of their mind before getting on that elevator. You know either suffering from severe mental illness, or whacked out of their gourd on some serious drugs.

Anyway of all the real outcomes. The impulse to even threaten violence is by far the most unlikely. You have to be wired to have that kind of initial impulse, and to be totally honest. I just don't see more then a couple people on these forums having it in themselves to rear up, ball up their fist, and get themselves into a position to beat down that child. I think anyone saying they could is being dishonest with themselves, and with everyone else in this thread.

There is nothing wrong with saying you would try to claw your way through the walls, wedge yourself up into the corner, or scream in horror. Hell there isn't even anything wrong with saying you would freeze rock solid. Those are normal well adjusted responses to that situation. The abnormal response is to go into a default attack mode. The only way that happens is if you have been conditioned to do that or you have a personality problem.

I have such a personality problem. I would indeed probably get ready to hit that girl, and it isn't something that I am particularly proud of in my life. It is a negative impulse to stressful situations. I am more prone to violence then most people, and it is something that I have to work hard and diligently to control.

Don't take what I am saying as some kind of condescending crack at you guys who are saying these things. What I am doing is giving you a compliment. Most of you are probably much better then me in this regard, and there is no reason you should be acting like you are ashamed about it. I would gladly trade screaming like a little girl over being primed for violence. You want to know what real fear is. Real fear is knowing that if you slip up someone else could probably get hurt.

Er, were these people at all aware that they were part of a show or anything? Or did they have absolutely ZERO knowledge that anything was going on?

I would obviously know it's a prank and most likely punch the kid.

I'd freak out, although part of me would try to rationalize what was actually going on. Being that it was a child (albeit a creepy looking one) I certainly wouldn't become physical unless she was coming at me with a knife or something.

This one was funny, but I'm surprised that these kinds of shows don't have negative outcome more often. Many people are unpredictable when they are scared and often act irrationally.

Her face looked a lot scarier before I hit play... Then again I would still faint if that happened to me... Especially when it turned dark.
Yes, I'm scared of the dark, get over it!

They haven't. As it was presented to people as a simple interview for a job they could scan these people for heart conditions beforehand in case you're wondering.

Ah, yeah, that's what I was wondering. I was worried for the first lady when i saw her grab her own chest.

I haven't responded to the topic yet, but I think I would have been more afraid of the elevator malfunctioning than the appearance of the girl. Ever since I was younger, I've had a crazy fear of dying due to elevator malfunctions. I get a little nervous every time I step inside of one (not visibly noticeable to others, but I feel it inside).

Irrationally... but instinctively. The reactions are predictable for a large majority of the time. 

You see, back when humans lived in the savannas it was well imprinted in their brains, due to evolution, the way they would react when faced with situations... well, not like this, but the whole thing of being afraid of the dark, being scared of noises and so on existed exactly so we could survive instead of walking fearlessly and stupidly towards an apex predator. Most of times, as you can imagine due to our size next to them, we survived by getting afraid and running the fuck away. That's why "flight or fight" usually is "flight" when we are met with an unknown threat. 

i think i would react like those people in the video. i mean, only two things would be possible, it's all just fake or it really is some kind of ghost girl or demon or whatever and since i believe that i would never think about a tv show at this moment i don't really know how i could just easily punch that girl in the face believing it's a ghost or something. i absolutely don't believe in this but i instantly would in this moment haha

oh my god!!.... i'll be shitting blood from terror if that creepy girl screams at me like that to be honest o_O