responses to people in need

• pluralistic ignorance

  • observing others reactions, if others seem relaxed you do too
  • but what if they were observing your reaction so drew same conclusion as you in emergency situation
• diffusion of responsibility

  • the more ppl present when someone needs help means that the responsibility for helping spreads out and there is less focus on 1 individual
• murder of kitty genovese

  • in 1964 kitty on way home from work 3.15am stabbed 2 times
  • screams and cries heard by several neighbours, stabber ran away and returned 10 mins later, stabbed her again, raped her and robbed apartment

  newspaper:

  • header nyc times ' 38 who saw murder didn't call police
• bystander behaviour

  • kitty incident and other observations shown that individual is less likely to help in emergency situations when others are present, than when alone