Purchase Solution

Research and Explanations

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

Basic notes and research ideas are included for defining and discussing the Bystander Effect.

Discuss ways that it diffuses responsibility, pluralistic ignorance, and how victim effects can influence helping behavior. How does social, cultural pressure, and beliefs about "self" affect helping behaviors?

Purchase this Solution

Solution Summary

1000 words of notes and APA references deliver some basic guidance about the Bystander Effect. This solution also cites research to denote how it diffuses responsibility, encompasses pluralistic ignorance, and how victim effects can influence helping behaviors.

Solution Preview

Welcome warmly to BrainMass! Please rate 5/5 for my sample ideas and APA references as you brainstorm your own topic.

First of all, the Bystander Effect is typically deemed as the human tendency to conform in being passive when in others' presence and how that hinders our prosocial behaviors. Experts also define it as the fact that social size "is inversely related to the likelihood of aid and social interaction. Bystanders abstain from giving help for three reasons. First, the presence of other people may inhibit helping behaviors because bystanders may fear that if they help, their behaviors will be negatively evaluated by other bystanders; this is termed audience inhibition. Second, the presence of others may inhibit helping behaviors when bystanders see that no one else is helping; this is termed social influence. Third, when bystanders believe that there are others nearby who might help, they refrain from providing help" (Chiu & Chang, 2015, p. 451).

Next, some ways in that it diffuses responsibility include the presence of others may diffuse, for example. When others around, we seem to shun the sense of individual responsibility onto others since the more people who are witnesses, the less likely one can expect to receive help. If there are fewer people, then it actually increases the odds that one can receive help. Again, social dilemmas and facets are highly influential and strongly align with notions of Goal-Expectation Theory, which "predicts that an individual, under social dilemma conditions, looks at the situation and understands that he or she is contributing to the problem but believes that a unilateral effort will have no impact on the situation; only a group effort will work. Moreover, because he or she has low expectations that enough other people will act in the interest of the group, he or she concludes that it is pointless to act in the interest of the group" (Kohm, 2015, p. 97).

It also relates to pluralistic ignorance since similarity exemplifies a major reason why people help. To illustrate, people are more willing to help others who are ...

Solution provided by:
Education
  • BS , Slippery Rock University
  • MA, Slippery Rock University
Recent Feedback
  • "thk u"
  • "Thank you. Posted one more.. if you are online pls help. "
  • "thk u"
  • "thk u"
  • "thnk you"
Purchase this Solution


Free BrainMass Quizzes
How can you tell if your loved one is suicidal?

This is a small quiz to help determine if a loved one is suicidal and what steps should be taken to help stop suicide.

Brain and behaviour

Reviews areas of the brain involved in specific behaviours. This information is important for introductory psychology courses.

Controversies in Developmental Psychology

This quiz addresses controversies in developmental psychology.

Can you name these types of cognitive distortions?

In each mini-scenario, can you identify the type of cognitive distortion being displayed? All of us are subject to cognitive errors, biases, and distortions throughout our daily lives.

Health Psychology

This quiz speaks to the general concepts, themes, and terminology associated with the field of health psychology.