The Murder of Kitty Genovese

The murder of Kitty Genovese occurred in 1964 when she was attacked outside her apartment in New York City. Despite her cries for help, witnesses reportedly did not intervene or call the police, leading to her death. This incident sparked widespread public outrage and discussions about the "bystander effect," where people are less likely to help when others are present. The case raised important questions about urban apathy, social responsibility, and emergency response, influencing later research on human behavior in crisis situations and prompting reforms in emergency services and public awareness campaigns.