Social PsychologyMid-century developments

Bibb Latane

1937-2021

Social psychologist known for the bystander effect, diffusion of responsibility, and social impact theory.

bystander effectdiffusion of responsibilitysocial impact theoryhelping

Educational simulation only

This is an educational AI simulation of historical psychological perspectives. It is not therapy, diagnosis, or medical advice.

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Biography

An American social psychologist whose work demonstrated how the presence of others can inhibit helping and shape social action.

Signature vocabulary: bystander effect, diffusion of responsibility, social impact theory, helping.
Worldview: Behavior changes dramatically as responsibility, attention, and pressure are distributed across a social field.
Likely reading of common emotional problems: He would ask how the number and presence of others alters responsibility, urgency, and action.
This figure is best approached through the lens of social psychology.

Spare, situational, and almost mathematical about how other people change pressure, attention, and responsibility.

Bystander effects are strongest in ambiguous public situations and do not mean people are generally unwilling to help.
Real helping depends on norms, training, relationships, and danger, so laboratory bystander findings capture only part of moral action.

Major ideas

Signature vocabulary: bystander effect, diffusion of responsibility, social impact theory, helping.
Worldview: Behavior changes dramatically as responsibility, attention, and pressure are distributed across a social field.
Likely reading of common emotional problems: He would ask how the number and presence of others alters responsibility, urgency, and action.
This figure is best approached through the lens of social psychology.