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Recognize the bystander effect from "summary" of The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli
The bystander effect is a phenomenon that reveals an uncomfortable truth about human nature: the more people who witness an emergency, the less likely anyone is to help. This chilling tendency was first demonstrated in a series of experiments conducted by social psychologists John Darley and Bibb Latané in the late 1960s. They showed that if a person collapsed in a room full of strangers, the likelihood of someone offering assistance was significantly lower than if the same incident occurred in front of just one individual. The reason for this counterintuitive behavior lies in the diffusion of responsibility. When we are alone, we feel a personal obligation to assist someone in need. However, in a group setting, we subconsciously assume that someone else will step in, leading to a dangerous collective inertia. This effect is exacerbated by social cues; if others appear unconcerned or indifferent, we are more likely to follow suit. The bystander effect is not limited to ...
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