Bystander Effect: Ambiguity And Diffusion Of Responsibility

The Bystander effect, or Bystander apathy, refers to the phenomenon in which the greater number of people present are less likely to help a person in distress. The less amount of people present, and or alone, will more likely feel responsible for helping one in distress. When an emergency situation occurs, observers are more likely to take action if there are few or no other witnesses. Bystander effect has been a problem for a long time. There have been many cases where this has been proven to be true. These variables include: ambiguity, cohesiveness and diffusion of responsibility. A person’s life could change within a blink of an eye. It is absolutely horrifying to be aware that people will not help a person in need if there are others
Before she could enter her home, a man named Winston Moseley stabbed her with a knife. She screamed at the top of her lungs, “Oh my God, I've been stabbed! Please help me!” Many people heard her scream but nobody wanted to get involved. When nearby apartment lights turned on, he ran off, leaving Catherine on the floor. As Catherine was dragging herself to the doorway bleeding, Moseley then returned to finish what he started. Later in court he said, “It didn’t seem like anyone was going to stop me!” By the time the police were notified of the attack, Catherine already died. After Moseley’s second attack, Catherine was still screaming for help(which took place over thirty minutes). There were 38 witnesses and nobody took action (“Bystander
Five steps in particular. If a person is to take action, they must notice the event and understand the situation as an emergency. They must take responsibility for providing help. The person deciding to help another in need will need to understand how to actually help out. The one taking responsibility needs to know what they are capable of doing and how they should act upon it. Lastly, actually providing the help being needed. A person should call some help if not sure what to do and or make a quick decision to take matters into their own hands. This is the best way to avoid being part of a bystander effect. A bystander effect is a social psychological occurring that refers to certain cases in which people don’t help a victim when others are actually present. The more people present will make more people feel like they aren’t responsible. A bystander may become influenced by the decisions they perceive other bystanders to be taking. There have been many cases in the past where deaths of others occur because of the lack of assistance others refuse to take (“Bystander