upgrade

🥸intro to psychology review

Bystander Effect

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

The bystander effect refers to the phenomenon where individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when other people are present. It describes how the presence of others can inhibit an individual's willingness to intervene in an emergency situation or provide assistance.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. The bystander effect was first demonstrated in the 1960s following the highly publicized murder of Kitty Genovese, where numerous bystanders failed to intervene or call for help.
  2. The presence of other people can lead individuals to assume that someone else will take responsibility for helping, a phenomenon known as diffusion of responsibility.
  3. Pluralistic ignorance, where people incorrectly assume that others are not bothered by a situation, can also contribute to the bystander effect by discouraging intervention.
  4. Audience inhibition, the fear of looking incompetent or foolish in front of others, is another factor that can inhibit helping behavior in emergency situations.
  5. The bystander effect is more likely to occur in larger groups, as individuals feel less personal responsibility and are more concerned about how others will perceive their actions.

Review Questions

  • Explain how the bystander effect relates to the concept of conformity in social psychology.
    • The bystander effect is closely tied to the concept of conformity, as individuals in a group setting may be less likely to intervene in an emergency situation due to a desire to conform to the perceived norms of the group. When others around them do not take action, individuals may feel pressure to also remain passive, even if they recognize the need for assistance. This conformity to the inaction of the group can lead to the bystander effect, where people fail to provide help despite the presence of an emergency.
  • Describe how the bystander effect can be influenced by the level of aggression or violence present in a situation.
    • The bystander effect can be moderated by the level of aggression or violence in a given situation. Research has shown that individuals are more likely to intervene in situations involving mild aggression or non-violent emergencies, as they may feel more capable of providing effective assistance. However, in situations involving more severe violence or aggression, the bystander effect is more likely to occur, as people may feel less equipped to safely intervene and may be more concerned about their own safety. The perceived risk and personal cost of intervention can thus play a significant role in an individual's decision to help or remain passive in the face of an emergency.
  • Analyze how the bystander effect can be mitigated through the promotion of prosocial behaviors and a sense of personal responsibility.
    • Strategies to mitigate the bystander effect often focus on fostering a sense of personal responsibility and promoting prosocial behaviors. By encouraging individuals to see themselves as capable of making a difference and to view intervention as a moral obligation, the bystander effect can be reduced. This can be achieved through education, training, and the creation of social norms that emphasize the importance of helping others in need. Additionally, research has shown that making the emergency more salient, providing clear instructions for action, and reducing the number of bystanders can all help to increase the likelihood of intervention, as individuals feel a greater sense of personal responsibility and are less influenced by the inaction of others.