The Bystander Effect
Written by Studio AM.
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When several people witness an emergency, a particular individual may be less likely to help than if they were alone. This pattern, found in some studies, is called the bystander effect. It does not mean that a larger crowd always leaves a person without help.
One explanation is that responsibility feels spread out, or diffused, among those present. Someone may assume another person will act. People can also look to each other when a situation is unclear. If others appear calm, a witness may underestimate the need for help.
The circumstances matter. How clear the danger is, whether people know each other, and what help seems possible can affect the response. Studies of real public conflicts have also found that someone often intervenes, and more witnesses can increase the chance that at least one person helps.
A clear request can reduce uncertainty. For example, asking a specific person to call emergency services gives them an identifiable task. It does not guarantee action, but it can clarify both the need and who is being asked.
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Questions
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Question 1 of 4
The passage mainly explains
The answer is B: how the presence of others can affect helping, depending on the situation
The passage describes possible diffusion of responsibility, contextual differences, and a way to make a request clearer.
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Question 2 of 4
According to the passage, what happens to a sense of responsibility in a group?
The answer is B: It feels spread out among everyone present
One explanation is that responsibility may feel spread across those present.
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Question 3 of 4
Why might asking one person directly help?
The answer is D: It clarifies the need and gives an identifiable task to that person.
A specific request can reduce uncertainty without guaranteeing that the person will act.
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Question 4 of 4
In this passage, 'diffused' most nearly means
The answer is A: spread out among many
The text pairs it with 'spread out', so 'diffused' means thinned across many people.
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