Wiggin murder put 'bystander effect' to the test...

This article chronicles the horrific death of Castleton State College instructor Linda Wiggin who was beaten to death in her home by her boyfriend. No one called the police until days after, even though the college students who lived with her likely heard the fight. At least one admits to hearing the fight, stating hearing repeated please of "help please" or "help police." Still, no one called the police. Family and friends are wondering why no one called the police, however, social psychologists are not all that surprised.

Why did this happen? Social psychologists have the answer: The bystander effect. The girl in the apartment likely felt that someone else in the apartment would call the police. Darley and Latane, who analyzed the bystander effect after the brutal New York City murder of a woman named Kitty Genovese who was murdered outside her apartment for thirty five minutes while her attacker left twice and returned each time, and still no one called the police even though people watched from their windows. In order to turn this effect around, and to analyze what it took to get people to help, these two psychologists came up with a five step plan of how to get people to help and the obstacles that go along with each step. (Latane & Darley, 1970)

Notice there is an emergency. The example will be the situation of the instructor above.

1. Notice that something is happening

Obstacles: Distraction. (pay attention to event downstairs) Self-Concerns. (I need to leave the home in a minute!)

2. Interpret event as an emergency.

Obstacles: Ambiguity. (Is she just upset or does she really need the police?) Relationship between attacker and victim. (It's her boyfriend, it can't be that bad!) Pluralistic ignorance (No one else seems to be too upset)

3. Take responsibility for providing help.

Obstacles: Diffiusion of responsibility. (Maybe someone else in the house will get the police)

4. Decide how to help.

Lack of competence: (I do not know how to handle this. Her boyfriend is much bigger than I am. Who should I call?)

5. Provide help.

Obstacles: Audience inhibition. (I'll look stupid if I call the police and there is no big deal!) Costs exceeds rewards. (If I call the police, and she was just exaggerating, will she kick me out of my apartment?!)

It is important to educate others on how to get help by reducing all of these obstacles. One needs to reduce distractions, assert that help is needed, assert that one person is responsible for getting the help, explain the kind of help and how to provide it, and not have an audience impact the amount of help. Once people understand these factors, the more helpful they were.

Perhaps if the college student in the house had taken a class in social psychology, she would not have ignored the cues to call the police, and save the instructors life.