Prosocial Behaviour and the Bystander Effect

Prosocial behaviour refers to actions that benefit others, such as helping, sharing, cooperating, and comforting. One of the most important questions in social psychology is: Why do people sometimes help others and sometimes fail to help? The study of the bystander effect has revealed surprising findings about the social factors that influence helping behaviour.

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The Kitty Genovese Case (1964)

The study of bystander behaviour was partly inspired by the case of Kitty Genovese, a young woman who was attacked and murdered outside her apartment in New York City in 1964. Initial media reports (later disputed) claimed that 38 witnesses saw or heard the attack but none called the police until it was too late.

This case shocked the public and led psychologists Darley and Latané to investigate why bystanders sometimes fail to help.

Note: Later investigations have questioned the accuracy of the "38 witnesses" claim. The actual events were more complex, and some people did attempt to help or call police. However, the case was important because it inspired crucial research into bystander behaviour.

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The Bystander Effect