Let's say you were walking down a lonely alley and suddenly a mutant spider appeared. You scream for help as loud as you can. Would you want only one person to hear your scream or a whole crowd to hear it?
Contrary to popular belief, it may be more beneficial in most cases for only one person to hear your scream. The probability of help is inversely related to the number of bystanders. It's easier for people to think that they aren't individually accountable for the actions around them when there are other onlookers.
However, diffusion of responsibility can be heightened or reduced by several factors which change the situation for a potential bystander. Anonymity and ambiguity both heighten the effect of diffusion of responsibility because people tend to stay uninvolved when they don't have a personal connection with the victim or are unsure of exactly what is happening. People, especially those in cities, dismiss situations around them because they claim to be simply "minding their business." When a bystander is called on or has specific qualifications to help, he or she will be more likely to take definitive action.
Everyone imagines helping those in need but when the time to stand up comes, very few people step up to the task. Most people wait for others to intervene. Step up because maybe no one else will.
Contrary to popular belief, it may be more beneficial in most cases for only one person to hear your scream. The probability of help is inversely related to the number of bystanders. It's easier for people to think that they aren't individually accountable for the actions around them when there are other onlookers.
However, diffusion of responsibility can be heightened or reduced by several factors which change the situation for a potential bystander. Anonymity and ambiguity both heighten the effect of diffusion of responsibility because people tend to stay uninvolved when they don't have a personal connection with the victim or are unsure of exactly what is happening. People, especially those in cities, dismiss situations around them because they claim to be simply "minding their business." When a bystander is called on or has specific qualifications to help, he or she will be more likely to take definitive action.
Everyone imagines helping those in need but when the time to stand up comes, very few people step up to the task. Most people wait for others to intervene. Step up because maybe no one else will.