Yeah, the experiment was pretty screwed up because it expected people to make a LOT of presumptions that they proscribed but didn't give nearly enough clues for. There is no reason whatsoever not to believe that a child of 7 does not simply live in the neighborhood and is out for a walk or likes to go to the store.
Even when asking for help, the presumption is that they would be looking for money.Furthermore, even if it is clear the child is lost most people wouldn't know what to do. Any male older than 10 who tried to help would be IMMEDIATELY presumed to be a child molester and people are FAR more likely to jump on him for trying to help than actually helping the child-- and every man knows this to be true.
As for women... well, it would have to be one who has a cellphone and isn't talking on the cellphone so that she could even notice. Even when you are lucky enough to find that one rare exception person who might want to help, what exactly are they to do? Call the police and sit around for half an hour?   See 1 other reply