Cognitive Dissidents discussion

"One dark night near the Archbold Biological Station in Florida, I heard not far behind me what writers of mystery stories describe as a bloodcurdling scream. I turned my flashlight toward the source of the scream, and about twenty feet from where I stood, a raccoon was wading at the edge of a shallow pool with a Southern Leopard Frog, Rana utricularia, in his mouth. While Noble (1931) suggests that screams uttered under similar conditions "may at least warn other frogs in the neighborhood," in this instance I was impressed by the fact that other frogs within a few feet of the raccoon continued calling as though completely unaware of the raccoon or the screams of their ill-fated neighbor.

"Whether frogs in a less frenzied state of sexual excitement would have reacted to the scream, I can only guess." (- Charles M. Bogert, p 30 of the insert bklt to the Sounds of North American Frogs CD)

"The lack of reaction of numerous neighbors watching the scene prompted research into diffusion of responsibility and the bystander effect. Social psychologists John Darley and Bibb Latané started this line of research, showing that contrary to common expectations, larger numbers of bystanders decrease the likelihood that someone will step forward and help a victim. The reasons include the fact that onlookers see that others are not helping either, that onlookers believe others will know better how to help, and that onlookers feel uncertain about helping while others are watching. The Kitty Genovese case thus became a classic feature of social psychology textbooks.

"In September 2007, the American Psychologist published an examination of the factual basis of coverage of the Kitty Genovese murder in psychology textbooks. The three authors concluded that the story is more parable than fact, largely because of inaccurate newspaper coverage at the time of the incident.[10] According to the authors, "despite this absence of evidence, the story continues to inhabit our introductory social psychology textbooks (and thus the minds of future social psychologists)." One interpretation of the parable is that the drama and ease of teaching the exaggerated story makes it easier for professors to capture student attention and interest." ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_o... )

As usual, BS from the American Psychologist.

Kitty Genovese -type stories happen nearly every week/month in large American cities. They are a recurring facet of modern life.

Dissecting the news coverage specifically of just this one infamous event in order to defray its import ('because the reportage was not accurate') is typically idiotic of the field.

The phenomenon is valid, no matter what the precise circumstances were that brought it into a national spotlight and made it a cause celebre'.

Fair enuf.