I finally found a term that describes the situation when an individual leaves the toilet paper roll empty, ignores the cats’ depleted food dish and refuses to discard the box after eating the final cracker. It’s “diffusion of responsibility.” This occurs when one thinks that someone else will take care of the problem, and therefore doesn’t personally address it.
I came across this term when I was trying to understand what causes some people to act, and some people to stand by. My husband recently slid on the ice at a gas station, and no one came to help. He wasn’t hurt; still, I couldn’t believe that not a soul came over to see if he was OK.
kAm|4r@>3D $49@@= @7 qFD:?6DD 2E %6I2D HC:E6D “s:77FD:@? @7 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ @44FCD H96? A6@A=6 H9@ ?665 E@ >2<6 2 564:D:@? H2:E 7@C D@>6@?6 6=D6 E@ 24E :?DE625] %96 >@C6 A6@A=6 :?G@=G65[ E96 >@C6 =:<6=J :E :D E92E 6249 A6CD@? H:== 5@ ?@E9:?8[ 36=:6G:?8 D@>6@?6 6=D6 7C@> E96 8C@FA H:== AC@323=J C6DA@?5] s:77FD:@? @7 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ >2<6D A6@A=6 766= =6DD AC6DDFC6 E@ 24E 3642FD6 E96J 36=:6G6[ 4@CC64E=J @C :?4@CC64E=J[ E92E D@>6@?6 6=D6 H:== 5@ D@] p?5[ H96? H6 5@?’E 766= C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C 2 D:EF2E:@?[ H6 766= =6DD 8F:=EJ H96? H6 5@ ?@E9:?8 E@ 96=A]” %96 HC:E6CD 8@ @? E@ D2J[ “$@[ :? E9:D H2J[ 5:77FD:@? @7 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ <66AD FD 7C@> A2J:?8 2EE6?E:@? E@ @FC @H? 4@?D4:6?46]”k^Am
kAmp?@E96C 6IA6CE[ p=6I {:4<6C>2?[ |s[ HC@E6 “%96 s:77FD:@? @7 #6DA@?D:3:=:EJ” H9:49 2AA62C65 @?=:?6 :? !DJ49@=@8J %@52J] WyF?6[ a_`_X sC] {:4<6C>2? 925 2? 6IA6C:6?46 D:>:=2C E@ >J 9FD32?5’D] w6 H2D 2E 2 AF3=:4 A2C< 2?5 42>6 FA@? 2 >2? =J:?8 F?4@?D4:@FD @? E96 8C@F?5j D6G6C2= A6@A=6 H6C6 DE2?5:?8 2C@F?5[ 3FE ?@ @?6 42==65 h\`\`]k^Am
kAmsC] {:4<6C>2? EC:65 E@ C2E:@?2=:K6 H9J ?@ @?6 96=A65 E9:D >2? H9@ H2D @3G:@FD=J :?;FC65] w6 42>6 FA H:E9 E96 4@?4=FD:@? E92E “(6VC6 2== 3FDJ H:E9 @FC @H? =:G6D 2?5 5@?VE H2?E E@ 86E :?G@=G65] (6 >2J ?@E 36=:6G6 H6VC6 E96 36DE A6CD@? E@ 2DDF>6 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ] (6 >2J ?@E 42C6 23@FE E96 :DDF6 :?G@=G65] (6 >2J 36 =2KJ]” }@ 7@FC H@C5D :? E96 t?8=:D9 =2?8F286 2C6 6G6C 62D:6C E@ D2J E92?i :EVD ?@E >J AC@3=6>]k^Am
kAm%96 5:77FD:@? @7 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ ?@E @?=J @44FCD :? >65:42= 6>6C86?4:6D @C H96? E96 A2A6C E@H6=D 2C6 6>AE:65 2?5 ?@E C6A=2465] xE @44FCD @? E96 A=2J8C@F?5 2D H6==[ 2?5 :? E96 =@4<6C C@@> 2?5 2C@F?5 E96 ?6:893@C9@@5[ H96? 49:=5C6? @3D6CG6 3F==J:?8] %96 724E :D E92E f_]e A6C46?E @7 J@F?8 A6@A=6 D2J E96J 92G6 D66? 3F==J:?8 :? E96:C D49@@=D] WqC25D92H 6E 2=] qF==J:?8 2?5 A66C G:4E:>:K2E:@? 2E D49@@=i !6C46AEF2= 5:776C6?46D 36EH66? DEF56?ED 2?5 D49@@= DE277[ a__fX] pD 2 C6DF=E[ >@DE @7 @FC 49:=5C6?[ 2E D@>6 A@:?E[ 92G6 366? 2 G:4E:>[ 2 3JDE2?56C @C 2 A6CA6EC2E@C]k^Am
kAm%96 5:77FD:@? @7 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ 5@6D?’E 92G6 E@ 36 E96 ?@C> H96? :E 4@>6D E@ C6DA@?5:?8 E@ 3F==J:?8] sC] |:496==6 q@C32[ 2 ADJ49@=@8:DE 2?5 A2C6?E:?8 6IA6CE[ 42>6 FA H:E9 E96 >?6>@?:4 q&$%t# E@ 96=A 49:=5C6? C6>6>36C 9@H E@ C6DA@?5 E@ 3F==J:?8] sC] q@C32 6IA=2:?Dik^Am
kAm`] q\q67C:6?5 E96 ':4E:>k^Am
kAmqJDE2?56CD @7E6? 5@?’E :?E6CG6?6 3642FD6 E96J 5@?’E H2?E E@ >2<6 E9:?8D H@CD6 @C 2DDF>6 E96 G:4E:> 5@6D?’E H2?E 96=A] qFE C6D62C49 D9@HD E92E :7 H:E?6DD6D <?@H 2 G:4E:> 766=D FAD6E @C H2?ED 96=A E96J 2C6 >@C6 =:<6=J E@ DE6A :?]k^Am
kAm(2G6 @E96C A66CD @G6Ci “r@>6 96=AP”k^Am
kAmpD< :7 E96 G:4E:> H2?ED DFAA@CEi “s@ J@F ?665 96=An”k^Am
kAm*@F 42? 2=D@ 6?4@FC286 DEF56?ED E@ 367C:6?5 2 3F==:65 49:=5 27E6C E96 6A:D@56] “%92E >FDE 92G6 76=E D@ 325]” “%92E 92AA6?65 E@ >6[ E@@]” “s@ J@F H2?E >6 E@ 96=A J@F 7:?5 2 E62496C E@ E2=< E@n” xE >2J 2=D@ 96=A @E96C 49:=5C6? C64@8?:K6 E96C6 2C6 D276 H2JD E@ 5676?5 2?5 DFAA@CE 2 E2C86E65 49:=5]k^Am
kAma] &\&D6 2 s:DEC24E:@?k^Am
kAm%96 C:89E 5:G6CD:@? 42? 5C2H A66CD 7C@> E96 D46?6[ >2<6 E96> 7@4FD 6=D6H96C6[ 8:G6 E96 E2C86E 2 492?46 E@ 86E 2H2J[ 2?5 >2J 86E E96 3F==J E@ >@G6 @?] p 3F==J H2?ED 2? 2F5:6?46[ D@ 3JDE2?56CD 42? C65F46 :E H:E9 2 5:DEC24E:@?]k^Am
kAmsC] q@C32 D92C6D E9:D DE@CJi “~?6 @7 E96 36DE 5:DEC24E:@?D x’G6 6G6C D66? H2D 2 E66? H9@ D2H 3F==J:?8 3FE 5:5 ?@E 766= D276 DE6AA:?8 :? E@ 96=A W2?5 >@DE 49:=5C6? 2D H6== 2D 25F=ED 5@ ?@EX] $@ 96 8@E 4C27EJ] w6 F?K:AA65 9:D 324<A24< 2?5 E96? H2=<65 ?62C3J E96 D46?6 2?5 E9C6H E96 324<A24< E@ E96 8C@F?5] ~7 4@FCD6[ 96 >256 :E 2AA62C 2D E9@F89 :E H2D 2? 244:56?E[ 3FE :E H2D 2 56=:36C2E6 2?5 3C:==:2?E 24E] “~9 ?@[” 96 D2:5] “p== >J DEF77 :D @? E96 8C@F?5 2?5 E96 36== :D 8@:?8 E@ C:?8] r2? 2?J@?6 96=An” p?5 E96 E66? 5C6H E96 2F5:6?46 7C@> E96 3F==J E@ 96=A 9:> A:4< FA 9:D A2A6CD] %96 E2C86E 2=D@ 925 2 492?46 E@ D?62< E@ D276EJ]”k^Am
kAmb] $\$A62< ~FE 2?5 $E2?5 &APk^Am
kAm$A62<:?8 @FE 42? 86E @E96CD E@ =6?5 2 92?5 2?5 ;@:? J@F] *@F >FDE DE2J 4@@=[ 2?5 ?6G6C 3@@[ 4=2A[ =2F89 @C :?DF=E[ H9:49 4@F=5 688 E96 3F==J @? 6G6? >@C6] w6C6 2C6 2 76H A@DD:3:=:E:6Dik^Am
kAm$9@H 5:D2AAC@G2=i v:G6 2 4@=5[ D:=6?E DE2C6]k^Am
kAm}2>6 :Ei “%92E’D 3F==J:?8P”k^Am
kAm{236= :Ei “%92E’D >62?P”k^Am
kAm$E2E6 5:D2AAC@G2=i “%9:D :D?’E 4@@=P” “s@?’E 5@ E92EP” “rFE :E @FEP”k^Am
kAmc] %\%6== @C %6IE u@C w6=Ak^Am
kAmp? 24E:G6 3JDE2?56C 4@F=5ik^Am
kAmu:?5 2 ECFDE65 25F=E] z66A 8@:?8 F?E:= J@F 7:?5 D@>6@?6 H9@ 36=:6G6D J@Fk^Am
kAmr2== 7@C 96=A 7C@> J@FC 46== A9@?6]k^Am
kAm$6?5 2 E6IE E@ D@>6@?6 H9@ 42? 86E 96=A]k^Am
kAmr2== h`` :7 D@>6@?6 4@F=5 36 :?;FC65]k^Am
kAmd] t\tI:E p=@?6 @C (:E9 ~E96CDk^Am
kAm$EC6DD E92E 3F==:6D =@G6 2F5:6?46D] qJDE2?56CD 42? 5C2:? 2 3F==J’D A@H6C 3J C65F4:?8 E96 8C@FA D:K6]k^Am
kAme] #\v:G6 2 #62D@? @C ~776C 2 #6>65Jk^Am
kAm#6D62C49 7:?5D E92E 3JDE2?56CD 2C6 >@C6 =:<6=J E@ 96=A H96? E@=5 H9J E96 24E:@? :D HC@?8 @C H92E E@ 5@] qJDE2?56CD 4@F=5ik^Am
kAm#6G:6H H9J :E’D HC@?8i “%9:D :D >62?P” “*@F’== 86E DFDA6?565]” “*@F’== 9FCE 9:>]”k^Am
kAm~776C 2 C6>65Ji “v@ 86E 96=AP”k^Am
kAm%96 E:AD 7C@> sC] q@C32 2C6 ;FDE @?6 @7 >2?J H2JD E@ 96=A J@FC 49:=5 766= 4@?7:56?E 2?5 D276 :? 255C6DD:?8 3F==J:?8 @C 2 D:EF2E:@? H96C6 D@>6@?6 ?665D 96=A] %2=< H:E9 J@FC 49:=5’D D49@@= E@ D66 9@H E96J 2C6 H@C<:?8 E@ AC6G6?E 2?5 C6DA@?5 E@ 3F==J:?8[ 2?5 4964< @FE E96D6 H63D:E6D 7@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?ik^Am
kAmU3F==j k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]DE@A3F==J:?8]8@G^86E\96=A\?@H^:?56I]9E>=Qm9EEADi^^HHH]DE@A3F==J:?8]8@G^86E\96=A\?@H^:?56I]9E>=k^2m[k^Am
kAmU3F==j k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]22A]@C8^6?\FD^25G@424J\2?5\A@=:4J^22A\962=E9\:?:E:2E:G6D^C6D:=:6?46^!286D^qF==J:?8\2?5\rJ36C3F==J:?8]2DAIQm9EEADi^^HHH]22A]@C8^6?\FD^25G@424J\2?5\A@=:4J^22A\962=E9\:?:E:2E:G6D^C6D:=:6?46^!286D^qF==J:?8\2?5\rJ36C3F==J:?8]2DAIk^2mk^Am
kAmU3F==j k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2>6C:42?DA44]@C8^3F==J:?8^DE2E:DE:4D\2?5\:?7@C>2E:@?Qm9EEADi^^2>6C:42?DA44]@C8^3F==J:?8^DE2E:DE:4D\2?5\:?7@C>2E:@?k^2m[k^Am
kAmsC] {:4<6C>2? C6>:?5D FD[ “(6 42? =:G6 H:E9 E96 4@?D:DE6?E 2DDF>AE:@? E92E H6’C6 96C6 E@ 96=A @E96CD :? H92E6G6C H2J H6 42?[ DE6AA:?8 FA 4@?DE2?E=J E@ H92E6G6C A=2E6 =:76 E9CFDED 367@C6 FD H:E9@FE 36:?8 2D<65] xE @?=J E2<6D :D AC24E:46] !6@A=6 H9@ E9:?< E9:D H2J 5@?VE 2D<[ Q(9@ H:== 5@ :EnQ %96J ;FDE 2DDF>6 :7 2 AC@3=6> 7:?5D E96> :EVD E96:CD E@ 96=A D@=G6]”k^Am
kAm!2>6=2 w6?56CD@? :D E96 5:C64E@C @7 56G6=@A>6?E 2?5 4@>>F?:42E:@?D 2E sF?63C@@<] %@ =62C? >@C6 23@FE A2C6?E:?8 2?5 DFAA@CE AC@8C2>D 2E sF?63C@@<[ 42== Wg__X ghf\___f] t>2:= !2> H:E9 A2C6?E:?8 BF6DE:@?D 2?5 4@>>6?ED 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@iA2>o5F?63C@@<]@C8QmA2>o5F?63C@@<]@C8k^2mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.