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Kitty
Genovese
AP Psychology
Mr. Tusow
A Social Psychology Case Study
The Bystander Effect and the
Diffusion of Responsibility
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The Attack
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Early in the morning on March 13, 1964, a
young woman was walking from her car to her
apartment. As she neared her house, a man
approached and started chasing her.
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As he caught her, he stabbed her multiple
times. As she was attacked she began to
scream: "Oh my God, he stabbed me! Help
me!”
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It was originally thought that as many as 38
people heard her screams or saw the attacks,
yet no one went to her aide.
Kitty Genovese
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The Attack

One neighbor yelled at the attacker to
leave the girl alone. Scared off by the
neighbor, the attacker fled and
Genovese staggered toward her
apartment.
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No one came out to her aide, and 10
minutes later, Genovese's attacker
returned but could not find her in the
parking lot.
Kew Gardens
Queens, New York
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The Attack

After searching the parking lot, cars and nearby train station,
the attacker found Genovese lying barley alive in the hallway
of her own apartment building.

Out of view of the street and of those who may have heard or
seen any sign of the original attack, he proceeded to further
attack her, stabbing her several more times.
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While she lay dying, he sexually assaulted her. He stole
about $49 from her and left her dying in the hallway. The
attacks spanned approximately half an hour.
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Site of the Attack
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Present Day Site of the Attack
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Helping Kitty Genovese
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A few minutes after the final attack a witness, neighbor Karl
Ross, called the police. Police and medical personnel arrived
within minutes of Ross' call.
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Genovese was taken away by ambulance and died en route to
the hospital.
While original reports of as many as 38 witnesses may have
been overstated, at least a dozen neighbors did witness the
attacks.
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One person yelled at the attacker
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One person called the police 35 minutes after the attack started
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Explanation or Excuse?
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A later investigation revealed that approximately a
dozen (but probably not the 38 originally thought)
individuals heard or observed portions of the attack.
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The report stated that only one witness was aware
she was stabbed in the first attack, and only one was
aware of the second attack.

Many were entirely unaware that an assault or
homicide was in progress; some thought it was a
lovers' quarrel or drunks leaving the bar outside when
the attacker first approached.
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The Attacker
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Winston Mosley was later arrested in connection
with a burglary. He confessed not only to the
murder of Kitty Genovese but also to the murder
and rape of two other people.
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Moseley gave such vivid details of the night he
killed Genovese, including leaving his house
and wife at 2 a.m. to go look for a woman to
attack and kill…the third time he had done so.
Winston Mosley
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Public Reaction
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The lack of reaction by people who witnessed some or all of
the attack outraged the public. The psychology world was
forced to research how and why people fail to act in certain
situations.
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Diffusion of Responsibility
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Diffusion of Responsibility: a social phenomenon which
tends to occur in groups of people, above a certain critical
size, when responsibility is not explicitly assigned.
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“No one raindrop thinks it caused the flood”
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Examples: Firing Squad; cleaning of common spaces
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The Bystander Effect

Bystander Effect: a social psychological phenomenon in
which individuals are less likely to assist in an emergency
situation when other people are present.

Probability of help is inversely proportional to the number of
bystanders-as group size grows, odds of helping decreases
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Social Exchange Theory
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Social Exchange Theory: a belief that all relationships are
formed by the use of a subjective cost-benefit analysis and
the comparison of alternatives.
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When a person feels the costs of a relationship outweigh the
perceived benefits, that the person will leave the relationship.
Social Exchange
Theory Graphed
University of Evansville
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Empathy-Altruism
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Empathy-Altruism: A theory that people help others out of
genuine concern for the well-being of the other person.
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Altruism: sacrificing the good of oneself for the well-being of others
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According to the 'empathy-altruismhypothesis', if you feel
empathy towards another person you will help them, regardless
of what you can gain from it.
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Good Samaritan Law
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Good Samaritan Laws: Laws protecting people from liability
when they choose to aid others who are in peril.
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Intended to reduce bystanders' hesitation to assist, for fear of being
sued or prosecuted for unintentional injury.
Eight states have laws, also called Good Samaritan Laws, that
require citizens to help people in peril.
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Florida
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Ohio
Rhode Island
Vermont
Washington
Wisconsin
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Duty to Rescue
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A duty to rescue arises where a person creates a hazardous situation. If
another person then falls into peril because of this hazardous situation,
the creator of the hazard has a duty to rescue the individual in peril.
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Other examples of a duty to rescue include:
 Emergency workers have a general duty to rescue the public within the
scope of their employment, but not a duty to specific individuals
 Parents have a duty to rescue their children
 This duty also applies to those acting in loco parentis, such as schools or
babysitters
 Common carriers have a duty to rescue their patrons.
 Bus drivers or pilots
 Property owners have a duty to rescue guests from all dangers on the
property
 Spouses have a duty to rescue each other