Genovese syndrome refers to a social phenomenon where individuals fail to offer help to a victim when other people are present. This behavior is often attributed to the diffusion of responsibility, where each bystander assumes someone else will take action. The term originated from the case of Kitty Genovese, a woman who was murdered in 1964 in New York City while numerous witnesses did not intervene. Research has shown that the likelihood of intervention decreases as the number of bystanders increases. This syndrome highlights the importance of awareness and personal responsibility in emergency situations, encouraging individuals to take action rather than relying on others.