Latane and Darley

Latane and Darley's research explores why people sometimes don't help during emergencies. They found that in larger groups, individuals often assume someone else will intervene, leading to less personal responsibility—a phenomenon called the "bystander effect." Their studies outline a step-by-step process: noticing the event, interpreting it as an emergency, feeling personal responsibility, deciding how to help, and then actually helping. When any step is skipped or unclear, helping behavior decreases. Overall, their work explains how social dynamics influence whether people intervene when someone needs assistance.