There is a phenomenon in
psychology called “diffusion of responsibility,” also called the “bystander
effect.” When there are a certain number of people around when a problem
arises, everyone who is watching will ignore the problem because all of them
think that someone else will take care of it. There is a sense of confusion as
to who is responsible for helping. A study conducted in 1968 demonstrates this.
Two researchers asked
college students to talk about problems that college students face, except that
the conversation was held over an intercom “to avoid embarrassment” (no one could
see the person talking). During the first round, a student mentioned that he
had seizures. When it came to his turn to speak again, he made sounds that made
it seem he was having a seizure. The researchers found that the larger the
group of people, the less likely people were to help. Eighty-five percent of
people who believed they were alone with the seizure victim offered help;
sixty-two percent of people in groups of three reported the seizure; and only
thirty-one percent of people in groups of six offered help.
The same year, the same
researchers conducted a similar study. They invited college students to take
part in an interview. While they waited for the interview, smoke began to pour
through a vent in the wall. Some people were in groups of three, while others
were alone. Again, the larger the group, the less likely people were to report
the problem. While seventy-five percent of those alone reported the smoke in
less than two minutes, less than thirteen percent of those in groups of three
said something, and that within six minutes (by that time the smoke completely
filled the room).
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