The Bystander Effect (Examples + Experiments)
Summary
TLDRThis video discusses the bystander effect, a psychological phenomenon where individuals are less likely to take action in emergencies when in a group. It explores its origins, starting with the infamous 1964 murder of Kitty Genovese, and highlights how research by psychologists Darley and Latané demonstrated the diffusion of responsibility in group settings. The video also references modern examples of bystander apathy, like the 2019 case of a teen being stabbed while onlookers filmed. Viewers are encouraged to act responsibly in group situations, whether during emergencies or in everyday scenarios like group projects.
Takeaways
- 📚 Group projects can be frustrating as often only one person ends up doing most of the work.
- 👥 The bystander effect is a psychological phenomenon where people are less likely to take action when they are in a group.
- 🏙️ The bystander effect can occur in everyday situations, cities, and even during crimes.
- 📖 The concept became widely discussed after the 1964 murder of Kitty Genovese, where many witnesses failed to help.
- ❓ Psychologists suggest that the diffusion of responsibility explains the bystander effect, as people assume someone else will take action.
- 🔬 In a 1960s study by Darley and Latané, it was found that people were less likely to report an emergency (like smoke filling a room) when others were present.
- ⚖️ The number of people present directly impacts how likely someone is to intervene; more people result in fewer actions taken.
- 📰 Although the original New York Times headline about Kitty Genovese’s murder was exaggerated, the bystander effect is still a real concern.
- 📱 Modern examples of the bystander effect include incidents like the 2019 murder of Cassine Morris, where witnesses filmed the crime but did not intervene.
- 🛑 Understanding the bystander effect can encourage people to take action in group situations, whether in emergencies or everyday scenarios like group projects.
Q & A
What is the bystander effect?
-The bystander effect is the idea that people are less likely to intervene or take action in an emergency when they are surrounded by others. The presence of a crowd reduces individual responsibility and makes people less likely to help.
What is an example of the bystander effect mentioned in the script?
-The script mentions the murder of Kitty Genovese in 1964 as a famous example. It was reported that 37 people witnessed her murder but did not intervene, which shocked the world.
How does diffusion of responsibility explain the bystander effect?
-Diffusion of responsibility occurs when individuals in a group feel that the responsibility to act is shared among everyone, which decreases their personal sense of obligation to help or intervene.
What experiment did John Darley and Bibb Latané conduct to study the bystander effect?
-Darley and Latané conducted an experiment where subjects were asked to fill out a questionnaire in a room that was later filled with smoke. The experiment tested the likelihood of subjects reporting the smoke, depending on whether they were alone or with others who ignored the smoke.
What were the results of the Darley and Latané smoke experiment?
-75% of participants who were alone reported the smoke, while only 38% of those with three other people reported it. In groups where others acknowledged the smoke but did nothing, only 10% of participants reported the problem.
What misconception about the Kitty Genovese case was later corrected?
-It was later revealed that while 38 people gave statements to the police, there were not 37 eyewitnesses to the murder, and multiple calls to the police were made during the incident.
What is attribution theory in relation to the bystander effect?
-Attribution theory studies how people explain causes and effects. In the context of the bystander effect, it refers to how individuals may attribute the responsibility to act to someone else in the group.
Why do people sometimes fail to intervene in emergency situations, according to the script?
-People may fail to intervene due to the diffusion of responsibility, brain development, cultural norms, or other factors that reduce their motivation to take action when others are present.
How can knowledge of the bystander effect help people make better decisions?
-By understanding the bystander effect and diffusion of responsibility, individuals can become more aware of their inaction in group situations and consciously choose to take responsibility and intervene when needed.
What modern example of the bystander effect is mentioned in the script?
-The script references the 2019 death of 16-year-old Khaseen Morris, who was stabbed in a fight while dozens of people witnessed the event, filmed it, and posted it on social media without intervening.
Outlines
😟 The Struggles of Group Projects and the Bystander Effect
Group projects are often disliked because it feels like not everyone contributes equally, with some individuals taking on more responsibility. Psychologists attribute this to the bystander effect, which refers to people being less likely to act when surrounded by others. This phenomenon isn't limited to classrooms; it happens in cities, crowds, and crime scenes. The bystander effect was famously highlighted in the murder of Kitty Genovese, where media claimed that 37 witnesses failed to act, shocking the public. This raised questions about human compassion and safety in large cities.
🤔 What is the Bystander Effect?
The bystander effect explains that people are less likely to intervene in emergencies when in the presence of others. Psychologists attribute this to the diffusion of responsibility, where individuals feel less obligated to act because they assume others will. This phenomenon was first studied after the murder of Kitty Genovese in 1964, where many witnesses reportedly failed to intervene. The concept highlights the disconnect between personal responsibility and collective inaction in group settings.
📚 Diffusion of Responsibility and Its Impact
Diffusion of responsibility is a form of attribution explaining why people often fail to act in emergencies. When in a group, individuals are less motivated to help because responsibility is shared among the crowd. For example, if you witness a robbery alone, you feel solely responsible to report it. However, in a crowd, people are more likely to think that someone else will take action. This mental shift contributes to bystander apathy, where no one steps up to help.
🔬 Key Studies on the Bystander Effect
In the late 1960s, social psychologists John M. Darley and Bibb Latané conducted studies to explore the bystander effect. In one experiment, they had participants complete a questionnaire in a room that gradually filled with smoke. When participants were alone, 75% reported the smoke. However, in groups of three, only 38% reported it, and in groups where others noticed the smoke but ignored it, just 10% took action. This experiment showed that the more people present, the less likely individuals are to respond to potential emergencies.
📰 Re-evaluating the Kitty Genovese Case
The New York Times' infamous headline claiming that 37 people witnessed Kitty Genovese’s murder without acting has since been debunked. While 38 people did give statements to the police, not all of them were eyewitnesses, and multiple calls were made to report the incident. Despite this correction, the case still serves as a critical example in the study of the bystander effect, highlighting how people often fail to act in emergencies, leading to difficult questions about human compassion and responsibility.
📱 Modern Examples of the Bystander Effect
The bystander effect continues to appear in modern tragedies. For instance, in 2019, 16-year-old Khaseen Morris was fatally stabbed while a crowd watched, many recording the incident on Snapchat instead of intervening. This case exemplifies how the bystander effect still influences behavior, with people choosing to document emergencies rather than help. While brain development and cultural norms may play a role, the bystander effect remains a troubling commentary on human inaction.
🌍 Reflections on Human Compassion and Responsibility
Research into the bystander effect offers an unsettling view of how people distribute responsibility in group settings. Cases like Kitty Genovese and Khaseen Morris highlight the disturbing tendency for people to avoid action during emergencies. This phenomenon raises concerns about the world we live in, where inaction can be mistaken for a lack of compassion. Most people do not want to live in a society that tolerates suffering, but understanding the bystander effect can help individuals consciously make better decisions.
🚨 Taking Action in Group Projects and Emergencies
Being aware of the bystander effect and diffusion of responsibility can help you make proactive decisions in group settings. Whether in a college project or an emergency situation, it's important to act instead of waiting for someone else to step up. Taking responsibility can save a project—or even a life. Understanding these concepts equips you to make better choices and ensure that inaction doesn't define your behavior.
💬 Final Thoughts and Call to Action
In conclusion, the knowledge of the bystander effect can empower individuals to act more decisively when faced with emergencies or group responsibilities. Rather than waiting for others to take the lead, it’s important to step up and make a difference. The speaker encourages viewers to ask questions and watch more videos from the social psychology series to further understand this topic. The goal is to foster a more compassionate and proactive society.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Bystander Effect
💡Diffusion of Responsibility
💡Kitty Genovese
💡Attribution
💡John Darley and Bibb Latané
💡Group Projects
💡Emergency Situations
💡Responsibility
💡Cultural Norms
💡Conscious Decision-Making
Highlights
Group projects often lead to unequal workload distribution, where one person ends up carrying most of the responsibility.
The bystander effect explains why individuals are less likely to take action when others are present.
The bystander effect doesn't just occur in classrooms but in cities, crowds, and crime scenes.
The murder of Kitty Genovese in 1964 is a key case that led to research on the bystander effect.
The diffusion of responsibility is a form of attribution that explains why people don't take action in large groups.
When responsibility is diffused across a group, individuals feel less pressure to act, thinking someone else will step in.
A famous experiment by Darley and Latané showed that individuals are less likely to report emergencies when in a group.
In a scenario where a room filled with smoke, 75% of people reported the smoke when alone, but only 38% did so in a group.
When others visibly ignored the smoke, only 10% of participants reported it, demonstrating the strong influence of group behavior.
Despite inaccuracies in the original media coverage of Kitty Genovese's murder, the bystander effect remains a powerful psychological concept.
Modern examples, such as the 2019 stabbing of Cassine Morris, show that the bystander effect continues to manifest in dangerous ways.
Dozens of people witnessed Cassine Morris' death, with some filming it, but none intervened, reflecting the bystander effect.
Factors like brain development and cultural norms can influence why people fail to intervene in emergencies.
Awareness of the bystander effect can help individuals consciously choose to take action in critical situations.
The bystander effect can apply to everyday situations, such as group projects, where people wait for others to take responsibility.
Transcripts
anyone who has been through high school
or college knows that group projects are
the worst
it always seems like no one's pulling
their weight and someone has to step up
and put most of the work on their
shoulders
why does this happen though
psychologists might say that it has
something to do
with the bystander effect but the
bystander effect isn't just a phenomenon
that happens in the college classroom
it happens in cities crowds and even
crime scenes
first off what is the bystander effect
the bystander effect is the idea that as
a bystander you are less likely to
intervene or take action when you are
surrounded by others
people are simply less likely to provide
assistance to another person
if they feel that they're in the
presence of a crowd so the bystander
effect has been a subject of studies all
the way back to the 1960s
many psychologists believe that research
on the bystander effect started with the
murder of kitty genovese
if you don't know already or haven't
seen my video genevieve was murdered
outside of her apartment at three in the
morning in 1964.
two weeks later the new york times
published an article titled 37 who saw
murder
didn't call the police this headline
shocked the world because how could 37
people fail to take action when
something so horrific was happening
does this mean that cities like new york
were extra dangerous do people not have
compassion
these are some of the questions that
psychologists have been trying to answer
ever since the 1960s so how do people
explain their inaction
in the case of kitty genovese media
sources said that witnesses just
didn't want to get involved but social
psychologists have a more scientific way
to explain
why the bystander effect occurs so
attribution is the study of how people
explain
causes and effects something called the
diffusion of responsibility is a form of
attribution that is often used to
explain
bystander apathy whenever we're in a
large group responsibility to take
action
is then diffused through everyone in the
entire group now this reduces each
individual's responsibility
and decreases their overall motivation
to act
to help for example if you're the only
person witnessing a robbery you're the
only person who has the responsibility
to stop the crime or report it to the
police
however if you're in a crowd and you
witness a robbery you are one of many
people who could potentially stop the
crime and report it to the police
when the same responsibility is diffused
among a larger group of people
everyone is more likely to say er
someone else will do it
see we think that each person may even
mentally assign the responsibility to
someone in the crowd
who looks more capable or that they
should take action
four years after the kitty genovese
murder two social psychologists
conducted multiple studies on the biased
interfect
john m darley and bib litany set up
different scenarios in which subjects
would see or maybe hear a possible
emergency
subjects would either be alone with a
small group of people or with a large
group of people
the researchers would then record
whether or not the subject reported the
incident
so take their first experiment the
researchers gave the subjects a
questionnaire to fill out in a room
they then left the room and they begin
to fill it with smoke
in one room the subject was entirely
alone in another room
three people sat in a room and ignored
the smoke and in the last room
three more people sat in the room and
two visibly noticed the smoke and
ignored it
so here's the results 75 percent of the
participants who sat in the room alone
got up and reported it to someone in the
building only 38 percent of the
participants who sat in there with three
other people
reported it and even more shocking 10
percent of the participants who sat in
the room with people that actually
acknowledged the smoke eventually
reported
so the problem here is as more people
get added to the room the likelihood of
an individual reporting the smoke which
is a problem
goes down so it's been over 50 years
since kitty genovese's murder
and you should know the new york times
headline that shocked the world has
since been revealed as a fraud because
while 38 people gave statements to the
police about hearing something there
were not
37 eyewitnesses to her murder and there
were more than one call that was made to
the police regarding the screams
but its research regarding the bystander
effect still proves to be an
uncomfortable look at how we distribute
responsibility and excuse
our inactions cases of the bystander
effect continue to make headlines all
over the world
for example in september 2019 a 16 year
old named cassine morris was stabbed to
death while in a fight outside of a
strip mall
dozens of people witnessed the teen's
death many even filmed the fight and
broadcasted over snapchat
but no one intervened in fact eight
people are actually in jail
brain development cultural norms and
other factors may play in a role in why
people don't intervene when an emergency
is taking place
now there's a lot more research to be
done on the bystander effect and
sometimes
attribution varies case by case but what
we do know is that with stories like
kitty genovese or casine morris they
shock
and often disgust the world failing to
take action paints a picture of the
world where people naturally lack
compassion and that they tolerate
suffering
and for most people that is not a world
they want to live in so what can you do
well the knowledge of the diffusion of
responsibility or the bystander effect
may actually help you consciously make
better decisions whenever you witness an
emergency
or even more simpler whenever you work
in a group project if you catch yourself
saying that you don't want to get
involved or maybe waiting to stand
around to wait for someone else to take
action
remember that you are a bystander you
should take action whenever you see
wrongdoing
you should report things before waiting
for someone else to report them
you may just save someone's grade in
college or someone's life
thank you guys so much for watching this
video i hope you learned a little bit
more about the bystander effect and if
you have any questions
feel free to leave a comment below or
watch some of my other videos in my
social psychology series
again thanks for watching and i'll see
you next time
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