Examples of Diffusion of Examples of Diffusion of Responsibility and Bystander Responsibility and Bystander

EffectEffect Latané and Darley, 1968Latané and Darley, 1968

– Cubicles with sounds of severe choking Cubicles with sounds of severe choking – Only person = 85%; One other person = Only person = 85%; One other person =

65%; four other people = 31%65%; four other people = 31%

Pluralistic ignorance Pluralistic ignorance is where they is where they assume nothing is wrong because assume nothing is wrong because nobody else looks concerned. nobody else looks concerned.

Conditions that strengthen Conditions that strengthen conformityconformity

1.1. Insecure, offering unwanted Insecure, offering unwanted assistance or “losing face” in front assistance or “losing face” in front bystanders bystanders

Behavior will be observed/judgedBehavior will be observed/judged

2.2. Group that has at least three peopleGroup that has at least three people

3.3. The group is unanimous; look at The group is unanimous; look at other’s reactions in an emergencyother’s reactions in an emergency

4.4. Group’s status is admirableGroup’s status is admirable

5.5. No prior commitment to any responseNo prior commitment to any response

Step 1 – Will the Bystander Step 1 – Will the Bystander Help?Help?

Is the incident noticeable for the Is the incident noticeable for the bystander?bystander?

Are there a lot of people around?Are there a lot of people around?– Noise, distractionsNoise, distractions

Step 2 – Will the Bystander Step 2 – Will the Bystander Help?Help?

Can the situation clearly be identified Can the situation clearly be identified as an emergency?as an emergency?

Pluralistic ignorance – others dictate Pluralistic ignorance – others dictate our actionsour actions– If alone, 70% report situation as If alone, 70% report situation as

emergency within 4 minutesemergency within 4 minutes– With others present, only 12% report With others present, only 12% report

within 4 minuteswithin 4 minutes– Darley & Latane, 1968Darley & Latane, 1968

Step 3 – Will the Bystander Step 3 – Will the Bystander Help?Help?

Based on the situation, am I Based on the situation, am I responsible to act?responsible to act?

The more people present…less likely The more people present…less likely to take responsibilityto take responsibility– If alone, 85% went to help victimIf alone, 85% went to help victim– With others present, 31% went to help With others present, 31% went to help

victimvictim– Darley & Latane, 1968Darley & Latane, 1968

Step 4 – Will the Bystander Step 4 – Will the Bystander Help?Help?

Do I have skills/knowledge/some capacity Do I have skills/knowledge/some capacity to help the victim?to help the victim?

If answers to all steps are yes, then victim If answers to all steps are yes, then victim receives helpreceives help– Situation noticeable?Situation noticeable?– Situation identified as emergency?Situation identified as emergency?– I have responsibility?I have responsibility?– Can my actions help?Can my actions help?

Actions to counter bystander Actions to counter bystander apathyapathy

As a victim, single out one person As a victim, single out one person in the crowd and appeal directly to in the crowd and appeal directly to themthem

In this way the person cannot In this way the person cannot diffuse their responsibility; it is diffuse their responsibility; it is placed on their shouldersplaced on their shoulders

This counters pluralistic ignorance This counters pluralistic ignorance as one person in the crowd does as one person in the crowd does helphelp

ExamplesExamples

Stanford Prison ExperimentStanford Prison Experiment– Diffusion of responsibilityDiffusion of responsibility

Milgram’s Obedience ExperimentMilgram’s Obedience Experiment– Prison Abuse in IraqPrison Abuse in Iraq

Liverpool, England MurderLiverpool, England Murder

Surveillance Tape - February 12, Surveillance Tape - February 12, 1993; Strand Shopping Center near 1993; Strand Shopping Center near

LiverpoolLiverpool

Sequence of EventsSequence of Events

The two boys kidnap James Bulger from The two boys kidnap James Bulger from the mallthe mall

As they walked outside, the boy had to be As they walked outside, the boy had to be carried because he was crying for his carried because he was crying for his mother and refused to walk anymoremother and refused to walk anymore

Sequence of EventsSequence of Events

They continue to an isolated area They continue to an isolated area under a bridgeunder a bridge

The boys cover the injuries Many The boys cover the injuries Many people notice the tears and blood but people notice the tears and blood but none intervenenone intervene

James drags his feet, cries, and James drags his feet, cries, and attempts to run awayattempts to run away

Sequence of EventsSequence of Events

They go into three stores and are They go into three stores and are questioned by over a 15 peoplequestioned by over a 15 people

Many give them directions to the police Many give them directions to the police stationstation

2 ½ hours after kidnapping James, they 2 ½ hours after kidnapping James, they take him to an area by train trackstake him to an area by train tracks

The boys throw stones and bricks, kick, The boys throw stones and bricks, kick, punch, and hit James with an iron barpunch, and hit James with an iron bar

Sequence of EventsSequence of Events

Thinking he is dead, they lay him on Thinking he is dead, they lay him on the railroad tracks before the train the railroad tracks before the train comescomes

ReferencesReferences

Latané, B. and Darley, J. M. (1970) Latané, B. and Darley, J. M. (1970) The The unresponsive bystander: Why doesn’t he unresponsive bystander: Why doesn’t he help?help? Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall

Gladwell, Malcolm. (2000). The Tipping Gladwell, Malcolm. (2000). The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference. Difference. ISBN 0316316962ISBN 0316316962. .

http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache:_khttp://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache:_kKV8k7HvsoJ:www.crimelibrary.com/classicKV8k7HvsoJ:www.crimelibrary.com/classics3/bulger/+boy+in+England,+bystander&s3/bulger/+boy+in+England,+bystander&hl=en&ie=UTF-8hl=en&ie=UTF-8 Court TV website Court TV website

The Bystander Effect The Bystander Effect and Diffusion of and Diffusion of

Responsibility in Responsibility in The The Boondock SaintsBoondock Saints

Genovese CaseGenovese Case

The film opens citing the textbook The film opens citing the textbook example of the Kitty Genovese case:example of the Kitty Genovese case:

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are needed to see this picture.

The tone of the film is set with the The tone of the film is set with the preacher's monologue and the preacher's monologue and the brother’s responsebrother’s response– ““We must fear…the indifference of good We must fear…the indifference of good

men”men”– ““I do believe monsignor’s finally got the I do believe monsignor’s finally got the

point.”point.”

The Saints represent the answer to The Saints represent the answer to diffusion of responsibility problem by diffusion of responsibility problem by taking on the work themselves. taking on the work themselves.

They also represent the small groups They also represent the small groups of people who, when faced with an of people who, when faced with an emergency, step out of the crowd emergency, step out of the crowd and rise to action.and rise to action.

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are needed to see this picture.

The film establishes the problem of The film establishes the problem of crime in America and shows that crime in America and shows that nobody is doing anything about it. nobody is doing anything about it.

The film claims society is sitting by The film claims society is sitting by and watching this happen and that and watching this happen and that everyone wants someone to do everyone wants someone to do something.something.

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are needed to see this picture.

The film alludes to the fact that this The film alludes to the fact that this style of justice is the only way style of justice is the only way anything can be done.anything can be done.

The message has dual-intentThe message has dual-intent– The audience either agrees and is called The audience either agrees and is called

to actionto action– The audience disagrees and seeks to The audience disagrees and seeks to

fight non-fictional instancesfight non-fictional instances Either way, the bystander effect/diffusion of Either way, the bystander effect/diffusion of

responsibility is broken through audience responsibility is broken through audience actionaction

ReferencesReferences

Boondock Saints, The.Boondock Saints, The. Dir. Troy Dir. Troy Duffy. Perf. Willem Dafoe, Sean Duffy. Perf. Willem Dafoe, Sean Patrick Flannery, Norman Reedus, Patrick Flannery, Norman Reedus, David Della Rocco. 1999. DiVX AVI. David Della Rocco. 1999. DiVX AVI. 20th Century Fox, 2002.20th Century Fox, 2002.