Psychology
The Bystander Effect and Diffusion of Responsibility in Emergencies
Quick fact
In one famous experiment, 85% of people who thought they were the sole witness to a medical emergency intervened, but if they believed others were also present, the helping rate dropped to 31%.
Why this is interesting
Imagine you collapse on a busy street. Would more witnesses mean more help—or less? A chilling psychological phenomenon called the bystander effect says the opposite.