The Bystander Effect

A bystander is a person who is present at an event or incident but doesn't take any part.

(Image courtesy: Google)

The term bystander effect refers to a phenomenon in which the greater the number of people present, the less likely people are to help in distress. When an emergency situation occurs observers are less likely to take any action if there are a lot of numbers of witnesses.

Bystander effect, the inhibiting influence of the presence of others on a person's willingness to help someone in need.

Social psychologist Bibb Latané and John Darley popularized the concept of "Bystander Effect". They got the idea of this effect from the infamous murder case of Kitty Genovese. This 28 year old woman was stabbed to death outside her apartment in New York City in 1964, while a dozen of passerby just watched her dying. They failed to step in or to contact the police.

Image: Kitty Genovese
(Image courtesy: Google)

                     

Psychologist say that two factors are the main/actual reason behind Bystander Effect. They are diffusion of responsibility and social influence.

1. Diffusion of responsibility:  The greater the number of bystanders the lesser the responsibility of taking action or steps. It can be said that bystander effect is a specific type of diffusion of responsibility.

2. Social influence:  Persons or individuals monitor the behavior of others around them to determine how to act.

(Image courtesy: Google). 

   

It's very natural for people to freeze or go into shock seeing someone in an emergency situation or being attacked by someone. It's usually a response to fear, the fear that one is too weak to help or maybe one might misunderstand the context or even that intervening or taking action will put one's life in danger.

Exclusive: 

It seems like human only have this effect. Which isn't true. Infamous 'Bystander Effect' isn't unique to humans - New study shows rats do it, too.

(Image courtesy: ScienceAlert)

 

Just like human a rat immediately leaps to the aid of another in need. But when there are other rats around, their behavior depends on their bystanders. So we can say that, this effect isn't only a human thing, this is a mammalian thing. Now researchers are carrying out farther experiments on other mammals to see their reaction.

And don't forget to follow or like us on Contagious Intelligence Facebook page.