---
title: "Diffusion of Responsibility — AP Psych Definition & Exam Guide"
description: "Diffusion of responsibility is feeling less personally accountable to act when others are present. It explains the bystander effect in AP Psych Topics 9.4 and 9.6."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/ap-psych-revised/key-terms/diffusion-of-responsibility"
type: "key-term"
subject: "AP Psychology"
---

# Diffusion of Responsibility — AP Psych Definition & Exam Guide

## Definition

Diffusion of responsibility refers to individuals feeling less responsible for taking action or making decisions when they are part of a group because they assume someone else will take on the responsibility.

## Related Study Guides

- [9.6 Altruism and Aggression](/ap-psych-revised/unit-9/altruism-aggression/study-guide/1IlPiXcGjmrFyRBRLrnS)

## Review

### Related Terms

- [Social Loafing](/ap-psych-revised/key-terms/social-loafing): The phenomenon of individuals exerting less effort when working in a group than when working alone.
- [Groupthink](/ap-psych-revised/key-terms/groupthink): A psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people, where the desire for harmony or conformity results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome.
- Collective Effervescence: A sociological concept that refers to the sense of energy and harmony people feel when they come together in a group around shared purpose.