The Bystander Effect: How a Woman Died Surrounded by Hundreds

In 1964, Kitty Genovese was stabbed 13 times and left to die in the streets outside her apartment. According to the New York Times, over 37 people saw the attack or saw her bleeding out in the streets, but it took over a half an hour for someone to even call the police. She screamed and screamed until she finally fell silent, and nobody checked on her. All of the witnesses had no criminal priors, and yet not one went out to help people. Psychologists and sociologists believe that this is the clear example of a Bystander effect.

The bystander effect is when a large group of people, like bystanders to a crime, view something and think "someone should do something!" Even with everyone thinking that way, nobody actually does anything and no attempt at help is made. Kitty Genovese would likely have lived if she got help right away or if the witness in his car got out and helped her out. The power of groups and social influences are easily some of the strongest influences on a persons nature. All the people in Kitty Genovese's neighborhood seemed like they should have done something due to their morals, but because a group of people were there they believed others would deal with it for them. This helps people understand how groups affect people and is a key point of research in sociology and social psychology.