What does the bystander effect describe?

The bystander effect describes the phenomenon where individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when there are other people present. In situations of emergency or crisis, the presence of others can lead to a diffusion of responsibility, where each bystander assumes someone else will take action. This is why option B, indicating that individuals have a tendency to help only when alone, accurately captures the essence of the bystander effect. It reflects the behavior observed in many studies, where people are more likely to intervene when they are the sole witnesses to an incident, rather than when they are part of a larger group.

The other options do not accurately capture the bystander effect. Increased help in emergencies would contradict the core principle of the bystander effect. Group behavior in helping situations can indeed occur, but it typically does not involve increased helping behavior; instead, it often leads to inaction. Finally, individuals offering help regardless of surroundings describes a behavior that is contrary to the bystander effect, as it implies that situational factors do not influence whether individuals choose to intervene or not.