Psychology
The Bystander Effect and Diffusion of Responsibility in Emergency Situations
Quick fact
The classic study by Latane and Darley found that when participants thought they were alone with someone having a seizure, 85% helped, but only 31% helped when they believed four other witnesses were present.
Why this is interesting
Imagine you collapse on a busy city street. Would you expect 50 people to rush to help? Actually, you're less likely to get help than if just one person were nearby. Why does the presence of others make us less helpful?