Bystander reactions to a violent theft: crime in Jerusalem

摘要: Seventy-two male Israeli students were exposed to a violent crime in the course of bogus discussion. Their awareness other bystanders' lack reaction emergency (social influence) and others' their actions (evaluation apprehension) crossed 2 X factorial design. An "alone" condition which subject was only bystander controlled for effects mere presence (diffusion responsibilit y). Helping reduced by diffusion y slowed negative social influence but increased evaluation apprehension. Differences traceable appeared prior those from processes. Implications these findings measurement helping interpretation decision making are discussed. The widely decried unresponsiveness 38 witnesses during murder Kitty Genovese (Rosenthal, 1964) major stimulus social-psycho logical research on behavior emergencies. Yet none this has confronted subjects with an caused crime. victims' need commonly been generated impersonally accidents (e.g., falling bookcases, Latane & Rodin, 1969), physical illness nervous seizures, Darley Latane, 1968), or nonviolent crimes theft, Moriarty, 1975). Bystanders have some violence, form fighting between children (Latane Darley, 1970) participants psychodrama (Borofsky, Stollak, Messe, 1971).