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a theory, -that people tend to be reluctant to help others, when there are numerous people around.
Kitty Genovese
Kitty GenoveseCatherine Genovese (1935 - March 13, 1964), commonly known as Kitty Genovese, was a New York women who was stabbed to death near her home in Queens, New York. The circumstances of her murder -- most notably, the fact the none of over three dozen witnesses to the attack took action to save her -- prompted investigation into the psychological phenomenon of the bystander effect.
Genovese was born in New York City, the oldest of five children. After her mother witnessed a murder in the city, the family chose to move to Connecticut. Genovese, 19 at the time, chose to remain in the city; she eventually took a job as a bar manager and lived in a Queens apartment.
Genovese had driven home in the early morning of March 13, 1964. Arriving home at about 3:15 a.m. and parking about twenty feet from her apartment's door, she was approached by a man named Winston Moseley. Genovese may have changed direction towards a nearby police call box, but Moseley overtook her and stabbed her. Genovese screamed out; she cries were heard by several neighbors, one of whom shouted at the attacker. Moseley ran away, and Genovese made her way towards her own apartment, seriously injured.
Witnesses observed Moseley enter his car and drive away, only to return five minutes later. He systematically searched the apartment complex, following the trail of blood to Genovese barely conscious in a hallway. He proceeded to rape and rob her, finally delivering a fatal stab wound. The entire attack had lasted approximately half an hour.
A few minutes after the final attack a witness, Karl Ross, called police. (He may not have been the first to call, but records of any earlier calls are unclear and were certainly not given a high priority by the police). Police and medical personnel arrived within minutes of Ross's call; Genovese was taken away by ambulance and died en route to the hospital. Later investigation revealed that at least 38 individuals nearby had heard or observed portions of the attack. Many were entirely unaware that an assault or homicide was in progress; some thought that what they saw or heard was a lover's quarrel.
Moseley, a business machine operator, was later apprehended in connection with another crime; he confessed not only to the murder of Kitty Genovese, but to two other murders as well, both involving sexual assaults. Subsequent psychiatric examinations suggested that Moseley was a necrophiliac.
Media attention of the Genovese murder led to reform of the NYPD's telephone reporting system; the system in place at the murder was often inefficient and directed individuals to the incorrect department. The Genovese murder also led to serious invesigation of the bystander effect by academic psychologists. In addition, some communities organized neighbourhood watch programs and the equivalent for apartment buildings to to aid people in distress.
_wikipedia encyc.
Kitty Genovese
Kitty GenoveseCatherine Genovese (1935 - March 13, 1964), commonly known as Kitty Genovese, was a New York women who was stabbed to death near her home in Queens, New York. The circumstances of her murder -- most notably, the fact the none of over three dozen witnesses to the attack took action to save her -- prompted investigation into the psychological phenomenon of the bystander effect.
Genovese was born in New York City, the oldest of five children. After her mother witnessed a murder in the city, the family chose to move to Connecticut. Genovese, 19 at the time, chose to remain in the city; she eventually took a job as a bar manager and lived in a Queens apartment.
Genovese had driven home in the early morning of March 13, 1964. Arriving home at about 3:15 a.m. and parking about twenty feet from her apartment's door, she was approached by a man named Winston Moseley. Genovese may have changed direction towards a nearby police call box, but Moseley overtook her and stabbed her. Genovese screamed out; she cries were heard by several neighbors, one of whom shouted at the attacker. Moseley ran away, and Genovese made her way towards her own apartment, seriously injured.
Witnesses observed Moseley enter his car and drive away, only to return five minutes later. He systematically searched the apartment complex, following the trail of blood to Genovese barely conscious in a hallway. He proceeded to rape and rob her, finally delivering a fatal stab wound. The entire attack had lasted approximately half an hour.
A few minutes after the final attack a witness, Karl Ross, called police. (He may not have been the first to call, but records of any earlier calls are unclear and were certainly not given a high priority by the police). Police and medical personnel arrived within minutes of Ross's call; Genovese was taken away by ambulance and died en route to the hospital. Later investigation revealed that at least 38 individuals nearby had heard or observed portions of the attack. Many were entirely unaware that an assault or homicide was in progress; some thought that what they saw or heard was a lover's quarrel.
Moseley, a business machine operator, was later apprehended in connection with another crime; he confessed not only to the murder of Kitty Genovese, but to two other murders as well, both involving sexual assaults. Subsequent psychiatric examinations suggested that Moseley was a necrophiliac.
Media attention of the Genovese murder led to reform of the NYPD's telephone reporting system; the system in place at the murder was often inefficient and directed individuals to the incorrect department. The Genovese murder also led to serious invesigation of the bystander effect by academic psychologists. In addition, some communities organized neighbourhood watch programs and the equivalent for apartment buildings to to aid people in distress.
_wikipedia encyc.
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