bystander effect
Crowd inhibits helping
The bystander effect is a social phenomenon where individuals are less likely to help someone in distress when other people are present.
The more witnesses, the less likely any one person is to intervene—each assumes someone else will act, or takes others' inaction as a signal that help isn't needed.
The bystander effect explains why nobody called 911 despite dozens hearing her screams.
Others shaping your behavior
- conformityAdherence to norms
- deindividuationLoss of self-awareness in groups
- group dynamicsInteraction patterns among members
- social loafingReduced exertion in groups
obedience · groupthink · cognitive dissonance · desensitization · learned helplessness · social proof · herd behavior
State of non-resistance
- noninterventionPolicy of staying uninvolved
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
- freezingExtremely cold
- paralysisLoss of muscle function
indifference · detachment · apathy · disengagement · avoidance · denial · unresponsiveness · watching
One who attests
- onlookerPerson who observes
- observerOne who perceives events
- spectatorObserver at an event
- crowdLarge public gathering
passerby · victim · perpetrator · helper · first responder · upstander · intervener · coward
Serious sudden danger
- assaultViolent offensive act
- bullyingAggressive repeated intimidation
- harassmentAggressive, unwanted targeting
- accidentUnintended harmful event
crime · medical crisis · cyberbullying · workplace misconduct · hate crime · domestic abuse · drowning · collapse
- speaking upVoicing your thoughts
- helpingSingle portion given
- reportingConveying documented information
- calling 911Contacting emergency services
confronting · assisting · rescuing · first aid · upstander · moral courage · altruism · civic duty
social influence
Others shaping your behavior
- conformityAdherence to norms
- deindividuationLoss of self-awareness in groups
- group dynamicsInteraction patterns among members
social loafing · obedience · groupthink · cognitive dissonance · desensitization · learned helplessness · social proof · herd behavior
passivity
State of non-resistance
- noninterventionPolicy of staying uninvolved
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
- freezingExtremely cold
paralysis · indifference · detachment · apathy · disengagement · avoidance · denial · unresponsiveness · watching · looking away
witness
One who attests
crowd · passerby · victim · perpetrator · helper · first responder · upstander · intervener · coward · enabler
emergency
Serious sudden danger
- assaultViolent offensive act
- bullyingAggressive repeated intimidation
- harassmentAggressive, unwanted targeting
accident · crime · medical crisis · cyberbullying · workplace misconduct · hate crime · domestic abuse · drowning · collapse · online harassment
stepping in
- speaking upVoicing your thoughts
- helpingSingle portion given
- reportingConveying documented information
calling 911 · confronting · assisting · rescuing · first aid · upstander · moral courage · altruism · civic duty · taking responsibility
- Psychology ResearchStanford prison experiment, Pavlov's dogs, marshmallow test, classical conditioning, operant conditioning
- social psychologysocial behavior, conformity, social influence, attribution, groupthink
- radiobiologyradiobiology, DNA damage, mutations, ionizing radiation, cell damage
- psychologypsychology, psychologist, therapist, psychiatrist, clinical psychology
- conformityconformity, conforming, conform, conformist, conformism
- crowdscrowd, horde, mob, throng, multitude
bystander effectaltruism
Prioritizing others' wellbeing
moral courage · civic engagement · jumping in · taking action · whistleblowing
standing, effect, understand, effects, effective, stands, outstanding, withstand, effectively