In social psychology there is a principle called "diffusion of
responsibility" that follows exactly the same logic. It's empirically
verified that the larger the number of spectators to an emergency, the less
likely it is that ANYBODY will help. Further studies reveal that people
assume somebody else will act, so they don't.

Oddly, one person taking action is usually all it takes to break the logjam,
and then you get traffic jams of people attempting to assist.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael J. Renner, Ph.D.
 Interim Associate Vice President, Academic Affairs
Professor of Psychology
West Chester University
West Chester, PA 19383

xxxxxx@wcupa.edu
Telephone: 610-436-3310
Fax: 610-436-2763
http://www.wcupa.edu/_facstaff/facdev/
"The path of least resistance is always downhill."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

-----Original Message-----
From: Dolce, Peter J [mailto:xxxxxx@MAIL.MMC.EDU]
Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2000 4:23 PM
To: xxxxxx@HRINET.ORG
Subject: The Halloween Conjecture

Am seeking rigorous proof of the inspired conjecture below, and speculation
on whether it applies in an ERA environment.

Accountability for an action is inversely proportional to the number of
signatures on the form that accompanies it.

Peter J. Dolce, Ph.D., Director
Office of Research Support Services
Meharry Medical College
1005 DB Todd Boulevard
Nashville, TN  37208
V 615 327 6703
F 615 327 6716

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