Thread by @ItsKieranDrew

In New York City, 1964, a woman was raped and murdered in front of 38 witnesses.

Not one of them called the police.

A thread on the dangers of our psychological biases 👇

After her night shift at a bar, Kitty Genovese was followed home by Winston Moseley.

100m from safety, he stabbed her with a hunting knife.

One witness saw the struggle and shouted:

"Let that girl alone."

Moseley fled.

But not for long.

Genovese tried to crawl to safety,

But the door was locked.

30 minutes later, Moseley returned.

His face covered by a hat.

He stabbed her again.

Raped her.

Stole $49.

And left her for dead.

She was found shortly after by her best friend.

An ambulance arrived,

But it was too late.

Her death shocked the country.

But the investigation that followed has made this one of the most infamous murders of modern times 👇

It was reported 38 witnesses could have prevented the brutal murder of Genovese.

People were furious.

There was uproar due to the ‘Moral Decay’ of modern society.

Until psychologists stepped in.

And found this was an error of misjudgement,

Not a cause of cruelty.

This led to the term ‘Bystander Effect’.

And it’s a result of 3 biases in combination.

The importance?

Groupthink is dangerous. Safety in numbers is a lie.

You need to be aware of:

1. Diffusion of responsibility
2. Evaluation apprehension
3. Pluralistic ignorance

More People, Less Blame

We expect others to act,

And see responsibility as less important in numbers.

This triggers a feedback loop of inaction.

So, if you find yourself disagreeing with the herd -

Ask:

Am I avoiding the right action because other people are too?

Opinions are Shackles

Fear of judgement is an evolutionary mechanism.

We want to fit in with our tribe, even if the action isn't right.

Or goes against our nature.

If you avoid something because of what others might think, remember:

Only you live out the consequences.

Independent Thinking is Tough

If a group holds a belief, we go along...

But often, it’s not the majority we follow.

But the loudest.

And we know that doesn't mean the best.

This is why it’s important to stand up for what you believe in.

One voice can spark a revolution.

This tragedy highlights something we should all be aware of.

In a group, biases can be amplified just as much as they are diluted.

So remember:

You are an individual.

Don’t be afraid to be different.

To act when others aren’t.

And to follow what feels right.

Thanks for reading my friend.

If you enjoyed this:

1. Follow me @ItsKieranDrew for threads on psychology, writing, and pursuing meaning
2. Check out a bit of my story:

https://twitter.com/ItsKieranDrew/status/1428038290804981761

TL;DR

Collective thinking leads to a psychological diagnosis, commonly known as 'The Bystander Effect'.

& 3 ways to protect yourself from groupthink.

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It helped me with my own path - it might help you with yours.

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purpose-workbook.carrd.co