Explain the concept of 'bystander apathy'. How is it linked to social influence?

Bystander apathy is the phenomenon where individuals are less likely to help in an emergency situation when others are present.

Social influence plays a significant role in bystander apathy. The presence of others creates a diffusion of responsibility, where individuals assume that someone else will take action. This is known as the bystander effect. Additionally, individuals may conform to the behaviour of others, particularly if they are unsure of what to do. This is known as informational social influence.

Research has shown that the size of the group and the perceived similarity of the bystanders can also influence the likelihood of intervention. In larger groups, individuals may feel less responsible and more anonymous, leading to a decreased likelihood of helping. Similarly, if the bystanders are perceived as being similar to oneself, individuals may be more likely to conform to their behaviour.

Bystander apathy has important implications for real-world situations, such as emergency response or bullying. Interventions aimed at increasing individual responsibility and reducing conformity to group behaviour may be effective in promoting helping behaviour. Additionally, increasing awareness of the bystander effect and encouraging individuals to take action may help to overcome the diffusion of responsibility.