You hesitate and feel uncertain.
If so many other people are ignoring the situation, does that mean that you should to?
If many people nearby are also not reacting, you may be less likely to respond.
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As the participants sat filling out questionnaires, smoke began to fill the room.
When participants were alone, 75% reported the smoke to the experimenters.
In contrast, just 38% of participants in a room with two others reported the smoke.
However, only about 40% offered assistance when other people were present.
On Friday, March 13, 1964, 28-year-old Genovese was returning home from work.
The initial article published inThe New York Timessensationalized the case and contained several factual inaccuracies.
Subsequent investigations revealed facts that were not initially included in the early reports about the murder.
The bystander effect can clearly impact social behavior, but why exactly does it happen?
Why don’t we help when we are part of a crowd?
Why Does It Happen?
Why is it that we sometimes feel less pressured to help out when there are many other people around?
Two major factors contribute to the bystander effect.
Diffusion of Responsibility
First, the presence of other people creates adiffusion of responsibility.
“Why shouldI be the only one to step up,” we might think.
“Someone else can do something.”
Because there are other observers, individuals do not feel as much pressure to take action.
The responsibility to act is thought to be shared among all of those present.
Social Pressure
The second reason is the need to behave in correct, socially acceptable ways.
We worry that we’ll be judged for helping, a phenomenon known as evaluation apprehension.
Researchers refer to this as pluralistic ignorance.
Researchers have found that onlookers are less likely to intervene if the situation is ambiguous.
Acrisisis often incredibly chaotic.
That means that the situation is not always crystal clear.
Onlookers might wonder exactly what is happening.
During such moments, people often look to others in the group to determine what is appropriate.
Preventing the Bystander Effect
What can you do toovercome the bystander effect?
Some psychologists suggest that simply being aware of this tendency is perhaps the greatest way to break the cycle.
There are situations where you might help others who are experiencingbullying, harassment, ordiscrimination.
However, this does not mean you should place yourself in danger.
It’s vital to assess the situation and take steps to protect your own safety.
How to Get Help If You Need It
But what if you need assistance?
How can you inspire others to help?
One frequently recommended tactic is to single out one person from the crowd.
Make eye contact and ask that individual specifically for help.
By personalizing your request, it becomes much harder for people to turn you down.
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American Psychological Association.Bystander intervention tip sheet.
Darley JM, Latane B. Bystander apathy.American Scientist.1969;57:244-268.
Latane B, Darley JM.The Unresponsive Bystander: Why Doesnt He Help?Prentice Hall, 1970.
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