In a Darley and Latane-style study, participants discuss college life through an intercom. During the discussion, a peer appears to have a seizure. When participants believed they were alone with the victim, 85% sought help. When they believed four others were also present, only 31% did so, and they took longer to act.
The reduction in helping when others are believed to be present best illustrates:
- Acheck_circle
The bystander effect through diffusion of responsibility
- B
Pluralistic conformity to group norms
- C
Cognitive dissonance reduction
- D
Self-serving attribution
Explanation
The bystander effect occurs when the presence of others reduces individual likelihood of helping, partly because responsibility for action is diffused across the group.