diffusion of responsibility and the bystander effect john cessna megan remec nicole meehan

Diffusion of Diffusion of Responsibility and the Responsibility and the

Bystander EffectBystander Effect

John CessnaJohn Cessna

Megan RemecMegan Remec

Nicole MeehanNicole Meehan

OverviewOverview

What is the diffusion of responsibility?What is the diffusion of responsibility? What is the bystander effect?What is the bystander effect? Examples of the Diffusion of Examples of the Diffusion of

ResponsibilityResponsibility Examples of the Bystander EffectExamples of the Bystander Effect Boondock SaintsBoondock Saints and the diffusion of and the diffusion of

Responsibility and the Bystander Responsibility and the Bystander Effect.Effect.

Diffusion of ResponsibilityDiffusion of Responsibility When others are present, our sense of When others are present, our sense of

responsibility decreases (“Bystander responsibility decreases (“Bystander Apathy”).Apathy”).

Thus our obligation to help is divided among Thus our obligation to help is divided among the people present. the people present.

When we are alone we perceive ourselves When we are alone we perceive ourselves as 100 percent responsible. as 100 percent responsible.

When in a group we the group are 100 When in a group we the group are 100 percent responsible and individually only a percent responsible and individually only a fraction of that 100 percent (“Why Don’t fraction of that 100 percent (“Why Don’t People Help”).People Help”).– In a group of 5 people, we only see ourselves as In a group of 5 people, we only see ourselves as

20 % responsible. 20 % responsible.

Bystander EffectBystander Effect Due to a decreased obligation to help by a diffusion of Due to a decreased obligation to help by a diffusion of

responsibility the members present in the situation become responsibility the members present in the situation become bystanders.bystanders.

This leads to the bystander Effect.This leads to the bystander Effect. Bystander Effect : a person’s unwillingness to help another Bystander Effect : a person’s unwillingness to help another

person when other people are present.person when other people are present. According to Latané and Darley, people help more often According to Latané and Darley, people help more often

and more quickly when they are alone. and more quickly when they are alone. View Social NormView Social Norm We use other people’s behavior to help gauge the situation We use other people’s behavior to help gauge the situation

(Smith, Newman).(Smith, Newman). When we are in a group we are de-individualized.When we are in a group we are de-individualized.

Examples…Examples…

To show further how responsibility is To show further how responsibility is diffused…diffused…– ElevatorElevator

Confederates actually dropped coins, to see Confederates actually dropped coins, to see the helping behavior that was exhibited.the helping behavior that was exhibited.

1 v 1 40 % exhibited helping behavior1 v 1 40 % exhibited helping behavior 6 bystanders, 20 % exhibited helping 6 bystanders, 20 % exhibited helping

behavior.behavior.

Examples…Examples…

– Boondock SaintsBoondock Saints– Kitty GenoveseKitty Genovese– 38 people witnessed the murder of Kitty 38 people witnessed the murder of Kitty

Genovese and did nothing.Genovese and did nothing.– The brothers viewed the whole city of Boston The brothers viewed the whole city of Boston

as bystanders. They no longer wanted to be as bystanders. They no longer wanted to be bystanders. They began to take action. No bystanders. They began to take action. No longer exhibiting the bystander effect.longer exhibiting the bystander effect.

ReferencesReferences ““Bystander Apathy.” 7 3 (2005). Psych-Info. Bystander Apathy.” 7 3 (2005). Psych-Info.

http://gateway.ut.ovid.com/gw2/ovidweb.cgihttp://gateway.ut.ovid.com/gw2/ovidweb.cgi.. Myers. D. Myers. D. The Adaptive Mind.The Adaptive Mind. 77thth ed. New York: ed. New York: Worth, Worth,

2003. “Social Psychology: once overlooked 2003. “Social Psychology: once overlooked now a now a staple.” staple.” APAAPA Monitor OnlineMonitor Online. 12 . 12 (1999). (1999). http://www.apa.org/monitor/dec99/ss8.htmlhttp://www.apa.org/monitor/dec99/ss8.html..

Newman, D. Smith, R. “Why Don’t People Help?” 14 9 Newman, D. Smith, R. “Why Don’t People Help?” 14 9 (1999). (1999). http://www.pineforge.com/newmanhttp://www.pineforge.com/newman..

““Social Psychology: once overlooked now a staple.” Social Psychology: once overlooked now a staple.” APAAPA Monitor OnlineMonitor Online. 12 (1999). . 12 (1999).

http://www.apa.org/monitor/dec99/ss8.htmlhttp://www.apa.org/monitor/dec99/ss8.html..

Conditions that strengthen Conditions that strengthen conformityconformity

1.1. Insecure, offering unwanted Insecure, offering unwanted assistance or “losing face” in front assistance or “losing face” in front bystanders bystanders

Behavior will be observed/judgedBehavior will be observed/judged

2.2. Group that has at least three peopleGroup that has at least three people

3.3. The group is unanimous; look at The group is unanimous; look at other’s reactions in an emergencyother’s reactions in an emergency

4.4. Group’s status is admirableGroup’s status is admirable

5.5. No prior commitment to any responseNo prior commitment to any response

Step 1 – Will the Bystander Step 1 – Will the Bystander Help?Help?

Is the incident noticeable for the Is the incident noticeable for the bystander?bystander?

Are there a lot of people around?Are there a lot of people around?– Noise, distractionsNoise, distractions


Can the situation clearly be identified Can the situation clearly be identified as an emergency?as an emergency?

Pluralistic ignorance – others dictate Pluralistic ignorance – others dictate our actionsour actions– If alone, 70% report situation as If alone, 70% report situation as

emergency within 4 minutesemergency within 4 minutes– With others present, only 12% report With others present, only 12% report

within 4 minuteswithin 4 minutes– Darley & Latane, 1968Darley & Latane, 1968


Based on the situation, am I Based on the situation, am I responsible to act?responsible to act?

The more people present…less likely The more people present…less likely to take responsibilityto take responsibility– If alone, 85% went to help victimIf alone, 85% went to help victim– With others present, 31% went to help With others present, 31% went to help

victimvictim– Darley & Latane, 1968Darley & Latane, 1968


Do I have skills/knowledge/some capacity Do I have skills/knowledge/some capacity to help the victim?to help the victim?

If answers to all steps are yes, then victim If answers to all steps are yes, then victim receives helpreceives help– Situation noticeable?Situation noticeable?– Situation identified as emergency?Situation identified as emergency?– I have responsibility?I have responsibility?– Can my actions help?Can my actions help?

Actions to counter bystander Actions to counter bystander apathyapathy

As a victim, single out one person As a victim, single out one person in the crowd and appeal directly to in the crowd and appeal directly to themthem

In this way the person cannot In this way the person cannot diffuse their responsibility; it is diffuse their responsibility; it is placed on their shouldersplaced on their shoulders

This counters pluralistic ignorance This counters pluralistic ignorance as one person in the crowd does as one person in the crowd does helphelp

ExamplesExamples

Stanford Prison ExperimentStanford Prison Experiment– Diffusion of responsibilityDiffusion of responsibility

Milgram’s Obedience ExperimentMilgram’s Obedience Experiment– Prison Abuse in IraqPrison Abuse in Iraq

Liverpool, England MurderLiverpool, England Murder

Surveillance Tape - February 12, Surveillance Tape - February 12, 1993; Strand Shopping Center near 1993; Strand Shopping Center near

LiverpoolLiverpool

Sequence of EventsSequence of Events

The two boys kidnap James Bulger from The two boys kidnap James Bulger from the mallthe mall

As they walked outside, the boy had to be As they walked outside, the boy had to be carried because he was crying for his carried because he was crying for his mother and refused to walk anymoremother and refused to walk anymore


They continue to an isolated area They continue to an isolated area under a bridgeunder a bridge

The boys cover the injuries Many The boys cover the injuries Many people notice the tears and blood but people notice the tears and blood but none intervenenone intervene

James drags his feet, cries, and James drags his feet, cries, and attempts to run awayattempts to run away


They go into three stores and are They go into three stores and are questioned by over a 15 peoplequestioned by over a 15 people

Many give them directions to the police Many give them directions to the police stationstation

2 ½ hours after kidnapping James, they 2 ½ hours after kidnapping James, they take him to an area by train trackstake him to an area by train tracks

The boys throw stones and bricks, kick, The boys throw stones and bricks, kick, punch, and hit James with an iron barpunch, and hit James with an iron bar


Thinking he is dead, they lay him on Thinking he is dead, they lay him on the railroad tracks before the train the railroad tracks before the train comescomes

ReferencesReferences

Latané, B. and Darley, J. M. (1970) Latané, B. and Darley, J. M. (1970) The The unresponsive bystander: Why doesn’t he unresponsive bystander: Why doesn’t he help?help? Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall

Gladwell, Malcolm. (2000). The Tipping Gladwell, Malcolm. (2000). The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference. Difference. ISBN 0316316962ISBN 0316316962. .

http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache:_khttp://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache:_kKV8k7HvsoJ:www.crimelibrary.com/classicKV8k7HvsoJ:www.crimelibrary.com/classics3/bulger/+boy+in+England,+bystander&s3/bulger/+boy+in+England,+bystander&hl=en&ie=UTF-8hl=en&ie=UTF-8 Court TV website Court TV website

The Bystander Effect The Bystander Effect and Diffusion of and Diffusion of

Responsibility in Responsibility in The The Boondock SaintsBoondock Saints

Genovese CaseGenovese Case

The film opens citing the textbook The film opens citing the textbook example of the Kitty Genovese case:example of the Kitty Genovese case:

QuickTime™ and aDV/DVCPRO - NTSC decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

The tone of the film is set with the The tone of the film is set with the preacher's monologue and the preacher's monologue and the brother’s responsebrother’s response– ““We must fear…the indifference of good We must fear…the indifference of good

men”men”– ““I do believe monsignor’s finally got the I do believe monsignor’s finally got the

point.”point.”

The Saints represent the answer to The Saints represent the answer to diffusion of responsibility problem by diffusion of responsibility problem by taking on the work themselves. taking on the work themselves.

They also represent the small groups They also represent the small groups of people who, when faced with an of people who, when faced with an emergency, step out of the crowd emergency, step out of the crowd and rise to action.and rise to action.

The film establishes the problem of The film establishes the problem of crime in America and shows that crime in America and shows that nobody is doing anything about it. nobody is doing anything about it.

The film claims society is sitting by The film claims society is sitting by and watching this happen and that and watching this happen and that everyone wants someone else to do everyone wants someone else to do something.something.

The film alludes to the fact that this The film alludes to the fact that this style of justice is the only way anything style of justice is the only way anything can be done.can be done.

The message has dual-intentThe message has dual-intent– The audience either agrees and is called to The audience either agrees and is called to

actionaction– The audience disagrees and seeks to fight The audience disagrees and seeks to fight

non-fictional instances using different non-fictional instances using different meansmeans Either way, the bystander effect/diffusion of Either way, the bystander effect/diffusion of

responsibility is broken through audience actionresponsibility is broken through audience action

ReferencesReferences

Boondock Saints, The.Boondock Saints, The. Dir. Troy Dir. Troy Duffy. Perf. Willem Dafoe, Sean Duffy. Perf. Willem Dafoe, Sean Patrick Flannery, Norman Reedus, Patrick Flannery, Norman Reedus, David Della Rocco. 1999. DiVX AVI. David Della Rocco. 1999. DiVX AVI. 20th Century Fox, 2002.20th Century Fox, 2002.

diffusion of responsibility and the bystander effect john cessna megan remec nicole meehan

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