Bystander Effect Case Study

While having a heart attack in a busy park Mr. Cruz thinks about how he can increase his chances of being helped. Research on altruism and the bystander effect can be used to increase the likelihood of bystander interference during a public emergency. Knowing the thought process of bystanders can also be helpful when in need of assistance.
Mr. Cruz can increase his chances of receiving help during a heart attack while at a busy park by going to a less populated area of the park. This will increase his chances of being helped as a result of the bystander effect; the more people present the less likely someone is to help. Bystander effect is demonstrated during the murder of Kitty Genovese many bystanders walked past Kitty’s murder with the assumption that someone else would help her. It is best if the area Mr. Cruz goes to is close to other people and the people he is around do not seem to be in a hurry. An example would be a walking trail; at the trail people will walk
Someone that is more likely to help another person in an emergency is someone that is happy, shares similarities with the person in need, feels guilty, will benefit from the situation, feels personally responsible, or it could affect their self-presentation. All of these contribute to whether or not a bystander will take action. The thought process of a bystander begins at noticing the situation; when a bystander is in a larger group it takes longer for them to notice and then register an emergency. After a bystander has decided the situation is an emergency they have to decide if at their responsibility to act. A larger group decreases the chance someone will act due to the diffusion of responsibility. If the bystander decides to act they have to know the proper way to help. Trained medical professionals are more likely to help in an emergency. Today helping in an emergency can be as simple as making a phone