What is the bystander effect?

The bystander effect refers to a social psychological phenomenon where individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when other people are present. This reduction in helping behavior can occur for several reasons, such as the diffusion of responsibility, wherein individuals feel that someone else will take action, or social influence, where the presence of others provides cues about how to behave. Essentially, when in a group, people may assume that someone else will intervene, leading to a decreased likelihood of any one person stepping forward to assist the victim.

The context surrounding this effect is critical; research has shown that in situations of emergency, the probability of helping decreases as the number of bystanders increases. This phenomenon contrasts with situations where an individual is alone, where they may feel a greater sense of personal responsibility to intervene. Understanding the bystander effect sheds light on group dynamics and how social environments can influence individual behavior, especially in critical situations.