In a study by Latane and Darley (1968), participants filled out paperwork in a waiting room when, all of a sudden, smoke started pouring into the room. Participants in only one of the conditions reliably reported the smoke. What explanation was given to explain the failure of participants in the other conditions to also report the smoke?

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In the other conditions, there were two other confederates (research assistants posing as participants) who acted as though they did not notice the smoke or did not react to it, which led the real participants to think that the situation was not an emergency. This is known as the bystander effect or diffusion of responsibility, where individuals are less likely to take action in an emergency situation if they perceive that others are present who could also take responsibility.

In a Study by Latane and Darley (1968), Participants Filled