Psychology
The Microsociology of Bystander Intervention in Public Emergencies
Quick fact
The name of this phenomenon—the bystander effect—was coined after the 1964 murder of Kitty Genovese, where 38 witnesses reportedly did not call the police or intervene, sparking a wave of research into why groups fail to act in emergencies.
Why this is interesting
You’re in a crowded street and someone collapses. Everyone looks around, and no one moves. Why does the crowd make us less likely to help?