Kitty Genovese Case and the Bystander Effect
Background of Kitty Genovese Case
- Event Date: March 13, 1964
- Location: Queens, New York
- Victim: Kitty Genovese
- Perpetrator: William Moseley
- Followed Kitty home, stabbed her multiple times
- Fled and returned to continue the attack
- Stole money during the attack
- Duration: Attack lasted over 30 minutes
- Outcome: Kitty Genovese died en route to the hospital
Initial Response
- Initial limited media coverage
- Police named Kitty's girlfriend as a suspect
- Murderer found a week later
The New York Times Article
- Article Title: "37 Who Saw Murder But Didn't Call Police"
- Published by: Abe Rosenthal
- Impact: National attention and critique
- Criticism: Article exaggerated witness inaction
- Claimed no one called the police, which was false
- Misrepresented the number of witnesses and their actions
- Public Reaction: Seen as urban apathy and failure of human response
Media Sensationalism
- New York Times article led to widespread media coverage
- Prompted reflection on bystander behavior
Revisiting the Case
- Documentary: "The Witness" by Kitty's brother, Bill Genovese
- Examines inaccuracies in reporting
- Interviews with reporters, witnesses
- Highlights Kitty was not alone in death
- Nominated for a News and Documentary Emmy Award (2018)
Psychological Concepts
Bystander Effect
- Known as Genovese Syndrome
- Explores why people don't intervene in emergencies
Diffusion of Responsibility
- People assume others will act, leading to inaction
Legacy and Impact
- Influenced the creation of the 911 emergency system
- Before, required directly contacting police stations through operators
- First 911 call made in 1968
- Ongoing research in psychology and sociology
Conclusion
- Misreporting of the Kitty Genovese case altered public perception
- Significant influence on emergency response systems and psychological research
- Continues to be a topic of study and discussion in understanding human behavior in emergencies
Note: For further exploration on the topic, watch "The Witness" or stay tuned for more detailed content on the bystander effect.