Final answer:
The phenomenon of whether someone helps a victim depending on the number of people who observe the same incident is explained by the bystander effect and diffusion of responsibility.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phenomenon of whether someone helps a victim depending on the number of people who observe the same incident is explained by the bystander effect and diffusion of responsibility. The bystander effect refers to the tendency for people to be less likely to intervene in an emergency situation or when a social norm is being violated if there are others present. This is because they feel less responsible due to the presence of other bystanders. Diffusion of responsibility is the idea that the responsibility to help is spread throughout the group, leading to a decreased likelihood of any one person taking action.
In the case of Kitty Genovese's murder, the presence of many witnesses led to pluralistic ignorance, where individuals assumed someone else would intervene and help, resulting in no one taking action. Similarly, in the example of witnessing an accident on the freeway, individuals may assume that someone else has already reported the incident, leading to a decreased likelihood of getting involved.