Kitty Genovese and the 'bystander effect' The kitty bystander effect refers to the "bystander effect," ==a social psychological phenomenon where individuals are less likely to offer help in a public emergency when there are other people present==. This concept was heavily influenced by the horrific murder of [Kitty Genovese] in 1964, as sensationalized newspaper reports claimed that numerous bystanders witnessed her attack and did nothing to help. The case, though not entirely accurate in its initial details, led psychologists to research the reasons for people's inaction, leading to the development of the bystander effect theory, which centers on the idea that responsibility is diffused among bystanders.   Key Aspects - **The Genovese Murder:**  The catalyst for the bystander effect theory was the 1964 murder of Kitty Genovese in her New York neighborhood. Initial media reports, which were later found to be inaccurate, stated that many witnesses heard or saw her attack but failed to intervene or call the police.  - **[Diffusion of Responsibility] A key factor in the bystander effect is the diffusion of responsibility. When a person is alone, they feel a strong sense of responsibility to act. However, in a group, this responsibility becomes diluted, as individuals assume someone else will take action, or that their own inaction won't be noticed.  - **Interpreting the Situation:**  People are less likely to act if they are unsure if a situation is truly an emergency or if they know how to help. Ambiguity in an emergency can lead bystanders to interpret it as something else, such as a domestic dispute, and decide not to get involved.  - **[Social Psychology] The Genovese case spurred the field of social psychology to study "prosocial behavior" and the reasons people do or do not help others.Research includes experiments in labs and real-world scenarios.  - **Misconceptions vs. Reality:**  While the initial reports of 38 bystanders doing nothing were sensationalized, the underlying principles of the bystander effect remain a significant social phenomenon. Some witnesses did attempt to call the police, but the 911 system did not exist yet, causing delays.  The term "kitty bystander effect" is not a separate phenomenon but rather refers to the bystander effect, which is named after the tragic murder of Kitty Genovese `Concepts:` `Knowledge Base:`