Final answer:
The bystander effect indicates that individuals in a group are less likely to help a victim, due to diffusion of responsibility. The correct answer to the student's question is b) An individual is more likely to report a crime than a group of people. This phenomenon emphasizes the importance of individual action in emergency situations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Bystander Effect Explained
The bystander effect refers to a social psychological phenomenon wherein individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when other people are present. The more bystanders there are, the less likely it is that any one of them will help, often due to diffusion of responsibility. This concept explains the tendency for each bystander to assume someone else will take action, leading to a reduction in the sense of personal responsibility.
In answering the student's question, the correct choice would be b) An individual is more likely to report a crime than a group of people. This choice most accurately reflects the bystander effect, where an individual on their own may feel a stronger sense of responsibility to intervene or report a crime, as opposed to when they are part of a larger group.
The concept of the bystander effect was prominently highlighted following the tragic case of Kitty Genovese, where bystanders reportedly did not intervene during her murder, although later research showed that some did take actions such as calling the police.
Understanding the bystander effect is critical because it can encourage people to be more proactive in emergency situations, recognizing that taking individual action is necessary when others may not step in.