The bystander effect occurs when the presence of others inhibits an individual from helping someone in need. The greater the number of bystanders, the less likely it is that any one of them will help. According to the document, as more people witness an emergency, each individual is less likely to take responsibility and intervene. Examples are given of incidents where many people failed to help victims in distress, including the murder of Catherine Genovese and the death of a toddler run over by vans in China.

1. Bystander Effect
by Evan Franz

2. Intro

3. Definition
The phenomenon in which the greater the number of people
present, the less likely people are to help a person in
distress. People are more likely to help when there are few
to no other witnesses.

4. How does it work?
First, a bystander will notice the event, and
take note of the events that are transpiring.
Second, a bystander will realize that there is
an emergency.
Third, a bystander will either assume
responsibility, or assume that other bystanders will assume responsibility for the situation.
Fourth, a bystander will either recognize that they have the knowledge to help the situation, or
acknowledge that they do not know enough to be helpful.
Fifth, a bystander will either act to help the situation, or simply remain an observer.

5. Examples
In 1964, 28-year-old Catherine Genovese was attacked and
stabbed on the way home from work. Even from repeated
cries for help, none of the 20 or so people in the apartment
building called the police or went to help. 30 minutes passed
before the police were contacted.

6. Examples
In China, 2-year-old girl Yueyue crushed by two vans and
left for dead by nearly 20 passer-by.

7. Examples
A Homeless man, Hugo Tale-Yax Saves a woman from being stabbed but gets
stabbed himself in the process. Surveillance footage shows people walking by,
taking pictures, and even shaking the man. He is on the sidewalk for almost
and hour and a half before the police were called.

8. Bibliography
"The Bystander Effect." About.com Psychology. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2012. <http://psychology.about.com/od/socialpsychology/a/
bystandereffect.htm>.This website helped me because it gave me a good definition of the Bystander Effect. It also helped by giving me a
few examples I could work with.
"An Explanation of The Bystander Effect." Bystander Effect â!! A Brief Explanation. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2012. <http://
www.familyhomesecurity.com/an-explanation-of-the-bystander-effect/>.This site helped me by providing me with a good image for my
title slide. It also gave me a good explanation of the bystander effect.
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/stoe0062/psy_1001%20section%2021%20spring%202012/2012/04/the-bystander-effect.html. This site helped me
by giving me a good picture for my how it works page.
"'It Was Too Dark': Passers-by Deny Seeing Hit-and-run Toddler Yueyue at Their Feet." The Sydney Morning Herald. N.p., n.d. Web. 21
Sept. 2012. <http://www.smh.com.au/world/it-was-too-dark-passersby-deny-seeing-hitandrun-toddler-yueyue-at-their-
feet-20111019-1m6rv.html>. This site gave me the information and a video for one of my examples.
"Understanding the 'Bystander Effect'" â!! Anderson Cooper 360. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2012. <http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/
2010/04/26/understanding-the-bystander-effect/>.This website helped me by giving me information on one of my examples.
Youtube. Gave me the videos.