Bystander intervention: Group size and victim status

Abstract

In the context of either a two- or four-person group discussion via an intercom system, female Ss overheard either a high- or low-status group member undergo an asthma attack. The prediction deriving from Latané and Darley′s model-that reporting of the emergency would be quicker in the two- than in the four-person group-was supported. The prediction that independent of group size reporting would be quicker when the victim was high status, rather than low, was not. © 1973, The Psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.