Final answer:
The factors of severity, physical distance, relationship, and time exposed help a bystander decide to help in an emergency, which relates to the bystander effect, where individuals are less likely to help when others are present due to a diffusion of responsibility.
Step-by-step explanation:
Severity, physical distance, relationship, and time exposed are all factors that can help the bystander decide to help during an emergency situation. These factors influence an individual’s assessment of the situation and their subsequent decision to intervene or not. The phenomenon known as the bystander effect suggests that in the presence of others, an individual is less likely to take action, often due to diffusion of responsibility, where each person assumes that others will step in.
When faced with an emergency, such as someone having a seizure on the way to class, it is important to be aware of the bystander effect and to take conscious action to overcome it. This might involve directly assisting the person, or if you are unable to help, contacting an authority figure or emergency services. Emergency workers, such as those who administer first aid or rescue individuals from dangerous situations, are trained to respond efficiently and may rely on bystanders to alert them to emergencies.Time exposed refers to the duration of the emergency situation. If the bystander is exposed to the emergency for a longer period of time, it increases the likelihood of recognizing the need for help and taking action.