Question

Latané and Darley attempted to explain people's failure to intervene in cases like that of Kitty Genovese, a woman who was violently attacked, in terms of

a) Diffusion of responsibility.
b) Bystander effect.
c) Altruism.
d) Empathy.

Answer 1

Latané and Darley's research suggests that 'diffusion of responsibility' explains why people often fail to intervene in emergencies like the attack on Kitty Genovese, where multiple witnesses assumed others would act.

Step-by-step explanation:

Latané and Darley attempted to explain people's failure to intervene in cases like that of Kitty Genovese in terms of Diffusion of responsibility. This concept elucidates why individuals in a group are less inclined to help in emergencies, assuming someone else will take action. The well-documented murder of Kitty Genovese brought attention to this phenomenon, as several witnesses to her attack did not call the police, likely because they believed someone else would do so.

This relates to the bystander effect, which occurs when the presence of others discourages an individual from intervening in an emergency situation. This effect is intensified as the number of witnesses increases, making it less likely that any one person will help, as they feel less personally responsible for the situation.