Final answer:
Diffusion of responsibility is closely associated with the bystander effect, which occurs when individuals in a group are less likely to help a victim, assuming others will take action.
Step-by-step explanation:
Diffusion of responsibility often plays an important role in the bystander effect. The bystander effect is a phenomenon in social psychology where individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when other people are present. This effect occurs because the presence of others leads to a diffusion of responsibility, where each individual assumes someone else will take action. This diffusion of responsibility can lead to situations where no one acts, as was the case in the famous incident involving Kitty Genovese.
Research on the bystander effect and diffusion of responsibility reveals that as the number of witnesses increases, the likelihood of any one person stepping in to help decreases. This concept is particularly important in understanding how group dynamics can impact individual behaviour and decision-making in social contexts. The effect has various implications for how we approach the design of safety measures and community interventions to encourage prosocial behaviour.