The phenomenon of pluralistic ignorance is one in which bystanders in an emergency tend to
A) suddenly forget what they know regarding delivering aid in emergency situations, due to overwhelming stress.
B) become "paralyzed" in emergency situations, due to overwhelming empathy for the person in the emergency situation.
C) perpetuate the mistakes of others while caring for a person in an emergency situation.
D) look around at other people who don't appear alarmed, and assume there's no emergency after all.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Pluralistic ignorance occurs when bystanders in an emergency look around at other people who don't appear alarmed, and assume there's no emergency after all. This is because everyone assumes that if no one else is responding to the emergency, then there must not be one. This can lead to the bystander effect, where no one takes action due to the assumption that someone else will.

The Phenomenon of Pluralistic Ignorance Is One in Which Bystanders