Reading passage

The bystander effect is a social psychological phenomenon that refers to cases in which individuals do not offer any means of help in an emergency situation to the victim when other people are present. This effect can be attributed to the diffusion of responsibility, where individuals feel less personally responsible for taking action when others are present.

Listening transcript

Professor: Today we will discuss the bystander effect, a crucial concept in social psychology. Imagine a crowded street where a person suddenly collapses. In a study by Darley and Latané, participants were less likely to intervene when they thought others were present. For instance, in the case of Kitty Genovese, multiple witnesses did not offer help when she was attacked. Similarly, in the smoke-filled room experiment, individuals were slower to react when they believed others were also present.

Speaking task instruction

Explain the concept of the bystander effect from the reading and use the professor’s examples to show how it works. Preparation time: 30 seconds, Response time: 60 seconds.

Sample student response

The bystander effect is when people don't help in emergencies if others are around, feeling less responsible. In the Kitty Genovese case, witnesses didn't act when she was attacked, showing this effect. Similarly, in the smoke-filled room experiment, people hesitated to react, thinking others would. This demonstrates how the presence of others can influence our willingness to help in critical situations.