Kitty Genovese murder – bystander effect

Kitty Genovese, the 28 year old woman who was stabbed to death in Queens area of New York while 38 neighbors watched and did nothing, has made a name for herself in modern day psychology and sociology. Her terrible death is now evidence of bystander apathy – the theory about how diffusion of responsibility is the cause to widespread inaction among a group of people. Kitty's murder happened in the early hours of March 13, 1964, when she was stabbed to death outside her apartment building by Winston Moseley. It was later called to attention that 38 of her neighbors witnessed the crime, yet not a single one of them came to her aid or called for help. This called for research to be done – why did no one stop this murder from happening? According to the bystander effect, a single witness alone would have been more likely to help than one of 38. This proves that diffusion of responsibility can affect people and their actions or lack there of in times of need.