Adira is driving to work when she sees a car fire at the side of a busy highway.She considers stopping,but then thinks that in the age of cell phones,and with so many cars passing by,someone must have already called the police.She passes the fire by.The next day,she sees an article in the newspaper about the person who had the car fire.He says he was astonished that nobody stopped to try to help him.The reaction Adira and the other drivers had produced was a
A) scientific principle.
B) diffusion of responsibility.
C) placebo effect.
D) demand characteristic.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The behavior of Adira and the other drivers is an example of diffusion of responsibility, which is the tendency for individuals to feel less personal responsibility to intervene in an emergency situation when others are present. Adira assumed that someone else must have already called for help, and therefore did not take action herself.

Adira Is Driving to Work When She Sees a Car