Which concept is central to the bystander effect, explaining why individuals refrain from helping in crowds?

Which concept is central to the bystander effect, explaining why individuals refrain from helping in crowds?

• A. Increased Personal Responsibility
• B. Diffusion Of Responsibility
• C. Bystanders Become More Courageous
• D. None

Answer: (B)

Diffusion of responsibility is the idea that the presence of others reduces each individual's sense of personal accountability to help. When more bystanders are around, people assume someone else will step in, and their own obligation to act weakens. This shared sense of responsibility spreads the duty to intervene across the group, making it less likely that anyone will help in a crowd. The other options don’t fit because increasing personal responsibility would boost helping, not diminish it; the pattern is not that bystanders become more courageous; and there is a real, recognized phenomenon behind this behavior, so none doesn’t apply.

Diffusion of responsibility is the idea that the presence of others reduces each individual's sense of personal accountability to help. When more bystanders are around, people assume someone else will step in, and their own obligation to act weakens. This shared sense of responsibility spreads the duty to intervene across the group, making it less likely that anyone will help in a crowd. The other options don’t fit because increasing personal responsibility would boost helping, not diminish it; the pattern is not that bystanders become more courageous; and there is a real, recognized phenomenon behind this behavior, so none doesn’t apply.