When an emergency situation
occurs, observers are more likely to take action if there are few or no other
witnesses. This phenomenon is referred to as the bystander (旁观者)effect.
The bystander effect is also called the Genovese effect, which
is named after Catherine “Kitty" Genovese, a young woman who was cruelly
murdered on March 13, 1964. Early in the morning, 28-year-old Genovese was
returning home from work. As she approached her apartment entrance, she was
attacked and stabbed(刺)by a man later identified as Winston Moseley. Despite Genovese's
repeated cries for help, none of people in the nearby apartment building who
heard her cries called police for help. The attack first began at 3:20, but it
was not until 3:50 that someone first contacted police.
Many psychologists were set thinking by the incident, as well
as most Americans. As the conclusion, the bystander effect came out and later
proved by a series of studies and experiments.
There
are two major factors that contribute to the bystander effect. First, the
presence of other people creates a division of responsibility. Because there
are other observers, individuals do not feel as much pressure to take action,
since the responsibility to take action is thought to be shared among all of
those present. The second reason is the need to behave in correct and socially
acceptable ways. When other observers fail to react, individuals often take
this as a signal that a response is not needed or not appropriate.
Other researchers have found that onlookers are less likely to
take action if the situation is ambiguous. In the case of Kitty Genovese, many
of the 38 witnesses reported that they believed that they were witnessing a
"lovers' quarrel", and did not realize that the young woman was
actually being murdered.
1.. The bystander effect is also called the
Genovese effect because a woman surnamed Genovese.
A. it somehow caused the murder of
B. its discovery resulted from the murder
of
C. it was actually discovered by
D. it always makes people think of
2.. Genovese was murdered .
.
A. while she was going out B.
in her apartment
C. halfway home D.
near her apartment
3.. Which can NOT have been a possible reason for the
neighbors NOT offering Genovese help?
A. They
believed in the bystander effect.
B. They thought someone else might help
her.
C. They didn't think they should help.
D. They didn't think she needed help.
4.. Before deciding to offer help, observers may ,
according to the psychologists.
A. wait for sort of a signal
B. hesitate and estimate the risk of
getting hurt
C. want to be sure it's appropriate
to react
D. wonder if the victim is worth
helping
5.. The article seems to suggest that, if there had been observers,
Genovese might not have been murdered.
A. no B.
fewer C.
more D.
braver