Smith drives his car numerous places.Sometimes he drives his car around his residential neighborhood and sometimes he drives it on the highway.Occasionally,Smith gets peeved with the way other people drive and makes a rude gesture to them.Based on one of the theories discussed in the textbook,he is
A) more likely to make a rude gesture to another driver on the highway than in his residential neighborhood.
B) less likely to make a rude gesture to another driver on the highway than in his residential neighborhood.
C) equally likely to make a rude gesture to another driver on the highway as in the residential neighborhood.
D) There is not enough information provided to answer this question.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the theory of diffusion of responsibility, people are less likely to help when there are a lot of other people around who could also help. On the highway, there are more cars and more people, which means there is more diffusion of responsibility, making Smith more likely to make a rude gesture to another driver. In his residential neighborhood, there are fewer cars and people, which means there is less diffusion of responsibility, making him less likely to make a rude gesture.

Smith Drives His Car Numerous Places