An elderly man is sitting on the sidewalk in front of the shopping mall holding his head. The articles he had purchased and a torn bag lay on the sidewalk next to him. People continue to walk in and out of the doors of the mall behind him without anyone stopping to help. This bystander apathy is best explained by the principle of:

Question

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Social proof explains bystander apathy in this scenario because individuals are more likely to take cues from the actions of others in deciding how to act. Since no one else is helping the elderly man, each bystander may assume that it is not necessary or appropriate for them to intervene, leading to a lack of action.

An Elderly Man Is Sitting on the Sidewalk in Front