1. One reason why bystanders do not help is called diffusion of responsibility: “If other people are around, they too, and not only me, are responsible to give help”, so the reasoning.help In order to examine diffusion of responsibility, the authors designed the following study: Diffusion of Responsibility in Bystander Intervention The study of Darley & Latané (1968):Darley & Latané (1968): © POSbase 2005Contributor

2. © POSbase 2005 Diffusion of Responsibility in Bystander Intervention The volunteers in this study sat in separate rooms and wore headphones. They were told that they are going to discuss personal problems with others. Unbeknownst to the volunteers, one of the participants was a confederate of the experimenter who – after the first round of discussion – simulated a serious seizure.

3. There were three groups: (1)Two discussants : Participant alone with confederate (2)Three discussants: Participant together with another participant and confederate (3)Six discussants : Participant together with confederate. The experiment proceeded as follows: © POSbase 2005 Diffusion of Responsibility in Bystander Intervention

4. © POSbase 2005 = Discussion round Diffusion of Responsibility in Bystander Intervention Discussants: Two 2 Min. ThreeSix 2 Min. All participants heard the identical tape recording of the seizure. 2 Min. = Seizure

5. There was a clear diffusion of responsibility effect. Here the percentages of emergencies one of the participants got help: Two discussants:85% Three discussants:62% Six discussants:31% Thus, the participants helped most when they thought that they are alone with the confederate who simulated the seizure. © POSbase 2005 Diffusion of Responsibility in Bystander Intervention