The Bystander Effect (Examples + Experiments)

Practical Psychology

17 Feb 202105:28

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

00:00

😟 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.

05:01

🤔 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

The bystander effect is the phenomenon where individuals are less likely to take action or intervene in an emergency situation when others are present. The video discusses how this effect influences human behavior, particularly in group settings like classrooms, cities, and crime scenes. A key example is the murder of Kitty Genovese, where multiple witnesses failed to act, thinking someone else would.

💡Diffusion of Responsibility

Diffusion of responsibility occurs when people in a group feel less personal responsibility to take action, assuming that others will step in. The video connects this concept to the bystander effect, explaining how the larger the crowd, the more likely people are to assume someone else will handle the situation, reducing individual motivation to act.

💡Kitty Genovese

Kitty Genovese was a woman murdered in 1964, and her death became a central case in understanding the bystander effect. Initial reports claimed that 37 people witnessed the murder without intervening. Although later details corrected these claims, her case remains an important example of how people fail to act in emergencies when others are present.

💡Attribution

Attribution refers to how people explain causes and effects, often related to human behavior. In the context of the bystander effect, attribution helps explain why people justify their inaction during emergencies. The video highlights how people may attribute responsibility to others in the crowd, believing someone else is better suited to intervene.

💡John Darley and Bibb Latané

John Darley and Bibb Latané were two social psychologists who conducted influential studies on the bystander effect. The video discusses their experiments, such as the smoke-filled room scenario, which demonstrated how the presence of others can reduce the likelihood of reporting emergencies, illustrating the diffusion of responsibility.

💡Group Projects

Group projects are mentioned as a relatable example of the bystander effect in non-emergency settings. In group work, students often experience the same diffusion of responsibility, where one person may end up doing most of the work because others assume someone else will handle it. This illustrates the broader impact of the bystander effect in everyday life.

💡Emergency Situations

Emergency situations are critical contexts where the bystander effect is most studied. The video refers to situations like crime scenes or medical emergencies, where individuals are less likely to help when in a group. The example of Kitty Genovese’s murder and the stabbing of a teen outside a strip mall highlight the tragic consequences of bystander apathy.

💡Responsibility

Responsibility is central to the bystander effect, as the concept explains how individuals assign or avoid taking responsibility when in a group. The video emphasizes that people are more likely to act when they are the sole witness to an emergency but often avoid acting in larger groups, assuming others will take on the responsibility.

💡Cultural Norms

Cultural norms refer to the shared behaviors and beliefs that influence how people act in society. The video suggests that cultural norms may play a role in the bystander effect, as societal expectations about individual versus collective responsibility can impact whether someone intervenes in an emergency or steps up in group settings.

💡Conscious Decision-Making

Conscious decision-making is the idea that knowledge of psychological concepts like the bystander effect can help individuals make more informed and proactive choices in critical situations. The video encourages viewers to be aware of their role as bystanders and to take action rather than wait for others, whether in emergencies or group projects.

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.