<P> Many institutions have worked to provide options for bystanders who see behavior they find unacceptable . These options are usually provided through complaint systems--so bystanders have choices about where to go . One option that is particularly helpful is that of an organizational ombudsman, who keeps no records for the employer and is near - absolutely confidential . </P> <P> The murder of Kitty Genovese is the case that originally stimulated social psychological research into the "bystander effect". On March 13, 1964 Genovese was stabbed, sexually assaulted, and murdered while walking home from work at 3am in Queens, New York . According to a sensationalized article in The New York Times, 38 witnesses watched the stabbings but did not intervene or even call the police until after the attacker fled and Genovese had died . The shocking account drew widespread public attention and many newspaper editorials . Psychology researchers Latané and Darley attributed the lack of help by witnesses to diffusion of responsibility: because each witness saw others witnessing the same event, they assumed that the others would be taking responsibility and calling the police, and therefore did nothing to stop the situation themselves . </P> <P> An article published in American Psychologist in 2007 found that the story of Genovese's murder had been exaggerated by the media . There were much fewer than 38 eyewitnesses, the police were called at least once during the attack, and many of the bystanders who overheard the attack could not actually see the event . The story continues to be misrepresented in social psychology textbooks because it functions as a parable and serves as a dramatic example for students . In 2016, The New York Times called its own reporting "flawed", stating that the original story "grossly exaggerated the number of witnesses and what they had perceived". </P> <P> On Memorial Day, 2011, 53 - year - old Raymond Zack, of Alameda, California, walked into the waters off Robert Crown Memorial Beach and stood neck deep in water roughly 150 yards offshore for almost an hour . His foster mother, Dolores Berry, called 9 - 1 - 1 and said that he was trying to drown himself . (There are conflicting reports about Zack's intentions .) Firefighters and police responded but did not enter the water . The firefighters called for a United States Coast Guard boat to respond to the scene . According to police reports, Alameda police expected the firefighters to enter the water . Firefighters later said that they did not have current training and certifications to perform land - based water rescue . Dozens of civilians on the beach, and watching from their homes across from the beach, did not enter the water, apparently expecting public safety officers to conduct a rescue . Eventually, Zack collapsed in the water, apparently from hypothermia . Even then, nobody entered the water for several minutes . Finally, a good samaritan entered the water and pulled Zack to shore . Zack died afterwards at a local hospital . </P>

When are you most likely to offer help to a person who appears possibly hurt ​