MCAT® ExamCritical Analysis and Reasoning SkillsEasy
Passage: The 'bystander effect' is a social psychological phenomenon in which individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when other people are present. The greater the number of bystanders, the less likely any one of them is to help. This is often explained by several factors, including diffusion of responsibility (each bystander feels less personal responsibility to act), social influence (bystanders look to others for cues on how to react), and audience inhibition (fear of appearing foolish if one misinterprets the situation). During a busy morning commute, a person collapses on a crowded subway platform. Many people walk past, glancing at the fallen individual but not stopping. Several minutes pass before someone finally approaches to offer assistance. This delay in intervention is primarily due to:
- AThe bystander effect
- BThe halo effect
- CDeindividuation
- DGroupthink
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. The bystander effect
The scenario describes a person collapsing in a crowded public place, with many people present, and a delay in anyone offering help. This directly aligns with the definition of the bystander effect, where the presence of multiple bystanders reduces the likelihood of any single individual intervening.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. The halo effect involves positive perceptions of a person influencing perceptions of their other traits, which is unrelated to this situation.
- C. Deindividuation involves a loss of self-awareness in groups, leading to uninhibited behavior, which is not the primary explanation for inaction here.
- D. Groupthink involves flawed decision-making in a cohesive group due to conformity pressures, not individual inaction in an emergency.
Bystander Effect
Individuals are less likely to help a victim in an emergency when other bystanders are present.
- Increased number of bystanders decreases likelihood of help.
- Caused by diffusion of responsibility, social influence, audience inhibition.
- Highlights impact of group size on individual action.
Memory trick: Bystander: Many eyes, no one acts.