Asked by Kawaii Maddox on Jul 13, 2024
Verified
In a crowded mall parking lot, dozens of people hear a female voice yell, "He's killing me!" Yet no one calls the police. What is the reason for the lack of action, according to Darley and Latané?
A) People are too busy to respond.
B) Most people "do not want to become involved."
C) The fight-or-flight response is not activated when others are in danger.
D) Diffusion of responsibility is the reason most people do not respond.
Diffusion of Responsibility
A phenomenon where individuals in a group are less likely to take action or feel a sense of responsibility because the responsibility is perceived to be shared among all group members.
Darley and Latané
Psychologists known for their work on the bystander effect, demonstrating that the presence of others can decrease an individual's likelihood to help someone in distress.
- Identify and explain the psychological mechanisms behind people's reactions in social situations, such as the bystander effect and diffusion of responsibility.
Verified Answer
JW
Jessie WilsonJul 19, 2024
Final Answer :
D
Explanation :
Darley and Latané's research on the bystander effect suggests that the presence of multiple people can lead to diffusion of responsibility, where each individual assumes that someone else will take action. This can result in a lack of intervention, even in emergency situations. Therefore, choice D is the best answer as it describes the reason why people might not take action in response to the woman's cry for help.
Learning Objectives
- Identify and explain the psychological mechanisms behind people's reactions in social situations, such as the bystander effect and diffusion of responsibility.