“Sociology Now” Kimmel, Michael and Amy Aronson著

【責任の霧散】Diffusion of Responsibility

One of the characteristics of large groups is that responsibility is diffused.  The chain of command can be long enough or authority can seem dispersed enough that any one individual, even the one who actually excecutes an order, may avoid taking  responsibility for his or her actions….This dynamic leads to the problem of bystanders: those who witness something wrong, harmful, dangerous, or illegal, yet do nothing to intervene.

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Group comformity and large bureaucratic organizations can often lead to a diffusion of responsibility – which leads people to claim they were “just following orders.” … Field Marshal William Keiter testifies at the Nuremberg trials in 1946.  He was hanged as a war criminal (80).

【傍観者】の問題：

　最も有名な事件のひとつは、１９６４年

ニューヨークの閑静な住宅街で

 キティ・ジェノヴィーズが自宅アパートの前で

殺害された事件だ。暴漢が彼女を殴り

刃物で刺している間、彼女は叫び続け、

３０人以上もの住民がアパートの窓から

それを目撃し叫び声を聞いていたにも関わらず、

だれひとり警察に通報せず、彼女は死亡した(p.80)

(翻訳者：ｎ）

“Sociology Now” Kimmel, Michael and Amy Aronson