Antisocial behaviours

• Why does the bystander effect Occur?

  1. diffusion of responsibility
  2. audience inhibition
  3. social influence
  4. proximity of the victim
  5. nature of the bystander
• what factors influence anti-social behaviour?

  the situation in question and the bystander effect
• what is the bystander effect?

  where the likelihood of bystanders helping is influenced by the number of bystanders present at the scene- the more bystanders there are, the less likely it is that one of them will provide help.
• what is diffusion of responsibility?


  A phenomenon where a person is less likely to take responsibility for an action when there are others present
• What is audience inhibition?


  When people are afraid that others will judge them by their actions if they make an incorrect move
• what is social influence?

  when the reaction of the other bystanders influence the likelihood that someone will help. e.g. if the crowd appears concerned then it is likely that bystanders will provide help
• What is proximity of the victim?

  The proximity of the victim to bystander influences the action of a potential helper
• what is nature of the bystander?

  a range of factors that influence the potential of a bystander to help
• what is the cost-benefit analysis?

  it suggests that when a bystander is confronted with an emergency, they weigh up the costs and benefits of providing help compared to those for not helping
• what are the three stages a bystander goes through before they respond to an emergency?

  1. Psychological arousal
  2. labelling the arousal with a specific emotion
  3. Evaluating the consequences of helping
• 1. what is psychological arousal?

  an increased heart rate triggered by witnessing a victims distress. the greatest the arousal, the more likely a bystander will help