In a country where 16 people become victims of road accidents every hour, road safety is a primary issue. But what happens after a road accident takes place? What’s the next important thing?
Pedestrians and bystanders come into the scene now. The responsibility falls on them, as dutiful citizens, to help the accident victim. But many times we see that people don’t come to the aid of the victim, they either choose to ignore and walk away or they just stand still and watch what happens next. This is a phenomenon known as the Bystander Effect.
The bystander effect is a social psychological phenomenon in which individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when there are other people present. The presence of others creates a diffusion of responsibility, leading individuals to believe that someone else will take action, resulting in a decreased likelihood of any individual taking action themselves.
The bystander effect was first studied and popularised by psychologists Bibb Latané and John Darley in the late 1960s following the infamous murder of Kitty Genovese in 1964. The case involved a young woman who was attacked and murdered outside her apartment building while numerous witnesses reportedly did not intervene or call for help.
Several factors contribute to the bystander effect. One of the main factors is the diffusion of responsibility, where individuals assume that someone else will take action or that their own responsibility is diminished in the presence of others. Additionally, the social influence of others’ behaviour can lead individuals to conform to the inaction of the group, especially if they perceive the situation as ambiguous or if others are not responding.
The bystander effect is influenced by several key variables, including the number of people present, the level of anonymity, the relationship between the bystanders and the victim, and the perceived costs or risks of intervention. For example, the effect tends to be stronger when there are more people present because individuals feel less personally responsible. Similarly, if the bystanders are strangers or if the situation is perceived as potentially dangerous, the effect is more pronounced.
However, it is important to note that the bystander effect is not an inevitable response in every situation. There are several strategies that can be employed to reduce the bystander effect and increase the likelihood of help, such as making direct requests for assistance, singling out individuals for help, or providing clear instructions about what needs to be done.
Overall, the bystander effect highlights the complex social dynamics that can influence human behavior in emergencies or situations where help is needed. It serves as a reminder of the importance of individual responsibility, awareness of the bystander effect, and the potential for positive intervention to make a difference in the lives of others.