Chapter 6 of 10All chapters
Chapter 6 of 10
Helping and the bystander effect
A finding that has been refined.
The original claim
People were said to be less likely to help when others were present, through diffused responsibility and uncertainty about whether help was needed.
- Asking one specific person for help overrides it.
- The story that inspired the research was substantially misreported at the time.
The correction
Video studies of real public conflicts find intervention is common, in most incidents. The effect is real in ambiguous low-stakes situations and much weaker in clear emergencies.