Bystander Effect

Bystander Effect

The bystander effect which we all know is when there is an emergency, the greater the number of people that are present, the less likely those people are to help one in distress. This effect has worsened over time. The murder of Kitty Genovese is a great example of the bystander effect. People nowadays will try to mind their own business but there are times when you need to look and see if someone is in need of your help or not. It still surprises me that a total of 38 people witnessed the murder and not one had the heart to dial 911. I believe that the presence of other people creates a diffusion of responsibility. When you are part of crowd there isn't as much pressure on you to take action. The presence of other makes you feel less personally responsible because you aren't the only one who witnessed it and you aren't responsible for helping or you assume someone else will provide help.

The bystander effect still happens to this day. There are videos on YouTube with people experimenting the bystander effect and it is truly disgusting. I honestly believe that there aren't people with a heart anymore. To this day there are bystander effects that make headlines. There are still people walking around bodies, looking at the ones distress but then keep walking like everything's okay. There are still a number and a very large number of people that wouldn't help one in need of help. There are those if you ask them “Would you help someone in distress?" that would "Yes" to this question, but when happens in front of their eyes they walk on or ignore like nothing is happening. When you choose not to help you are building a discouraging life society not only for you but for your loved ones as well. Whether we like it or not we do shape the society that we live in.

This bystander effect is showing us what we are as society. If we cannot help one person in need how do we expect people to help us when we're in need? Kitty...