Various factors influence impulsive behavior that one develops towards helping during an emergency. The factors that drive one towards helping someone during an emergency include social factors, diffusion of responsibility and pluralist. Back in 1964, Kitty Genovese was killed in New York. The murder took place in front of more than thirty-eight witnesses. Among the witnesses, none of them tried to save her. The murder shocked many people who wondered why the witnesses did nothing to try and save the victim. The incident was a catalyst for the research on what motivates one to help the other when they are in an emergency.
Several kinds of research have demonstrated that when there is an observer, it reduces the probability of one to help. This goes contrary to what common sense will tell you. Many people will feel safer when they see numbers. Therefore a victim is likely to receive help from a single witness rather than a group of witnesses. The bystander effect is explained in two primary psychological explanations. These explanations include diffusion of responsibility and social norms experienced by the bystander. All of these explanations have been approved by the different researcher as what goes through the minds of the bystanders.
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According to the diffusion of responsibility, there are five major steps that a bystander goes through (Ahrens, Rich & Ullman, 2011). The steps in the diffusion of responsibility help the bystander to make their mind whether to help the victim or not. Bystander needs to acknowledge that there is an event taking place. Once they do not notice the event, they will not be at a position to help. Other people always see an incident when it's too late. Therefore he/she has to notice the event for them to offer help.
The Bystander has to interpret the event as an emergency. Not all incidents are always an emergency. If they recognize the event as an emergency is when they can provide help. Some situations one cannot be able to help as they fear for their safety too. Such incidents can force one not to give the support needed (Ahrens, Rich & Ullman, 2011) . After interpreting the event as an emergency, the bystander will have to take full responsibility to help the person in danger. At the same time, they are in apposition to assume and avoid helping. The assumption can be on the basis that another person will provide the help needed. The Bystander now will have to decide on the correct response he should take for them to help. Some cases the bystander will choose to provide the help themselves if they can. In incidents such as a car accident, the bystander will need to call an ambulance. The last step for a bystander is to implement the response they have decided to provide. In extreme danger situations, they might choose not to do so. Failing to take responsibility to help is described as a reduction of psychological cost. These costs include elements of guilt and embarrassment.
Pluralistic ignorance can also affect the bystander towards helping (Preston, 2013) . According to the social norm syndrome, the bystander will use the behavior of close people (Ahrens, Rich & Ullman, 2011) . The nearby people will help them decide whether to help or not. People around starts to help then the bystander will also provide help. There are situations when you are the person who has the skills to help, i.e. a doctor. Other people look at you in a way that indicates you need to improve. Different cultures or social norms can make a bystander decide whether they will help or not. A good example is like in the cities people are used in minding their own business. This is usually the opposites if what happens in upcountry. Therefore a bystander in the city will most likely not provide help. Those in the villages are having the moral of helping one another.
References
Ahrens, C. E.; Rich, M. D.; Ullman, J. B. (2011). "Rehearsing for real life: The impact of the InterACT sexual assault prevention program on self-reported likelihood of engaging in bystander interventions". Violence Against Women .
Preston, S. D. (2013). “The origins of altruism in offspring care”. Psychological Bulletin, 139 , 1305–1341. A
