AP PSYCHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The bystander effect occurs when the presence of others discourages an individual from intervening in an emergency situation, against a bully, or during an assault or other crime. The greater the number of bystanders, the less likely it is for any one of them to provide help to a person in distress.

Detailed explanation-2: -Social influence In general, positive moods, such as happiness and contentment, encourage bystanders to notice emergencies and provide assistance, whereas negative moods, such as depression, inhibit helping. However, some negative moods, such as sadness and guilt, have been found to promote helping.

Detailed explanation-3: -Psychologists have found that people are sometimes less likely to help out when there are others present, a phenomenon known as the bystander effect. One reason the bystander effect occurs is due to diffusion of responsibility: when others are around who could also help, people may feel less responsible for helping.

Detailed explanation-4: -Additional experiments by Latané and Rodin (1969) found that 70% of people would help a woman in distress when they were the only witness. But only about 40% offered assistance when other people were also present.

Detailed explanation-5: -The Kitty Genovese Case As Prime Example Of The Bystander Effect. The 1964 high-profile case that prompted much scientific research, as well as a national conversation about why people help or don’t help, was the brutal murder of a young woman by the name of Kitty Genovese.