Bystander intervention

Overview

The bystander effect, diffusion of responsibility and pluralistic ignorance, Darley and Latané's findings, and the personal and situational factors that decide whether people help.

What you need to know

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Questions from this subtopic

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1. 1

   What is the bystander effect?

   Model answer

   The bystander effect is the finding that people are less likely to help someone in need when others are present. The more bystanders there are, the less likely any one person is to help.

2. 2

   What is bystander intervention?

   Model answer

   Bystander intervention is when a person who witnesses an emergency steps in to help. Psychologists study what makes intervention more or less likely.

3. 3

   What is diffusion of responsibility?

   Model answer

   Diffusion of responsibility is the spreading of responsibility for helping across everyone present. Each bystander feels less personally responsible, so each is less likely to act.

4. 4

   What is pluralistic ignorance in an emergency?

   Model answer

   Pluralistic ignorance is when bystanders look to each other to judge a situation and see no one reacting. Each person then decides the situation is not an emergency.

5. 5

   What did Darley and Latané (1968) find when participants heard someone apparently having a seizure?

   Model answer

   Participants who believed they were the only listener helped in 85% of cases before the seizure ended. Only 31% helped when they believed four others could also hear.

6. 6

   Which personal factors make a bystander more likely to help?

   Model answer

   Bystanders with relevant skills, such as first aid, are more likely to help. Similarity to the victim, a good mood and high empathy also increase helping.

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