Bystander Intervention Theory

Bystander Intervention Theory explains how people decide whether to help someone in need. It suggests that when a person witnesses an emergency, they go through several mental steps: noticing the event, interpreting it as a problem, feeling personal responsibility to act, and then deciding how to help. Factors like crowd size or ambiguity can influence these steps; for example, more bystanders might make someone less likely to intervene because they assume someone else will help. Overall, the theory highlights how social situations and perceptions affect our willingness to assist others in need.