Question

Bystander effects as situations in which individuals change their estimation

of the fighting ability of those whose fights they observe.

a) What information other than that provided by visual cues is available to

a bystander? Give three specific examples, describing them well.

Answer 1

The phenomenon, bystander effect was introduced by M. Darley and Bibb. Latene. Bystander effect refers to that an individual is less likely to help a needy person when others are present in that situation. Other people provide different cues to the bystander which refrains her/him from helping the helpless.

1.) The situation is not an emergency: If the bystander sees that others present in the situation are not showing any concern towards the victim, they get the cue that the situation is not that worse.

2.) Somebody in others will provide the help sooner or later: When others present in that situation talks about the victim, the bystander gets the cue that one of them is going to help the victim sooner or later.

3.)Helping could put others in danger: When the bystander sees that others are not helping the victim, s/he get a visual cue that other are not helping because helping could put them dangerous situation. For example, if the victim dies, the saviour will have to answer police.