At a rave party, a 15-year-old was drugged and then raped repeatedly by a number of the partygoers. Some onlookers snapped pictures that they subsequently posted on Facebook, and others just ignored what was happening. When a witness to the affair was contacted by police, his statement was, "I didn't know her. I assumed she was a willing participant. Besides, no one else was calling 911." What is the term used to describe his reaction to the event?
A) groupthink
B) bystander apathy
C) intervention hesitation
D) appearance of unanimity

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The term used to describe the witness's reaction is "bystander apathy," which refers to the phenomenon where individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when other people are present. The more bystanders there are, the less likely any one of them is to intervene, often due to a diffusion of responsibility.

At a Rave Party, a 15-Year-Old Was Drugged and Then