In New York City in 1964, 37 people saw the murder of a young girl, but only one person was willing to call the police. This event prompted researchers Bibb Latané & John Darley to examine how often people actually help those in need. They found that the more people who were around, the less likely anyone was to step forward to aid someone else. Similarly, studies show that people feel less responsible if they know that others are watching them.
Latané and Dreyfus identified the cognitive and behavioral processes that precede bystander intervention. First, the situation is noticed; then an emergency is recognized, before the degree to which responsibility is assessed and a decision is made. Bystanders also assess the nature of the person needing help — someone who appears elderly or disabled may receive greater attention than someone who appears drunk.
