A Question of Numbers
you're walking down a busy city sidewalk, and you see someone in front of you fall down. what would you do? now imagine that same situation, but you are the only other person on the sidewalk. what would you do then? According to social psychologists, you are more likely to help when there is no one else around. in contrast, if there are many witnesses, or bystanders, you might not offer help. it is even possible that no one would help the person at all. psychologists believe this is a natural yet complex human reaction, which they call the bystander effect.