Jeff's car broke down and smoke started rising from the engine. He felt lucky to have broken down while parked in the center of town during lunch when many people were outside and could help. However, 30 minutes has passed and despite the heavily populated area, nobody has offered assistance. This is an example of the ________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The bystander effect is a phenomenon where individuals are less likely to offer assistance in an emergency situation when there are other people around. This is due to diffusion of responsibility, where individuals assume someone else will take action. In this scenario, despite being in a heavily populated area, nobody has offered assistance, which is indicative of the bystander effect.

Jeff's Car Broke Down and Smoke Started Rising from the Engine