Jake'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 hour, when many people were outside and could help. However, 30 minutes has passed and despite the heavily populated area, nobody has offered assistance. Jake's experience is an example of the __________.
A) zeitgeist
B) behaviorist effect
C) bystander effect
D) self-serving prophecy

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The bystander effect is a social phenomenon where individuals are less likely to offer help in an emergency situation when other people are present. This is often attributed to a diffusion of responsibility, where individuals feel less personally responsible to offer assistance when others are around. In this case, despite being in a heavily populated area, nobody offered assistance to Jake, likely due to the bystander effect.

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