Bystander apathy refers to the phenomenon where individuals are less likely to help a victim when other people are present. This behavior often occurs because people assume someone else will take action, leading to a diffusion of responsibility. The more bystanders there are, the less likely any one person feels compelled to intervene. This concept gained attention after the tragic case of Kitty Genovese, who was murdered in 1964 while numerous witnesses failed to assist her. Research has shown that factors such as social influence and fear of embarrassment can contribute to bystander apathy, making it a significant topic in psychology and emergency response studies.