Critique paper

Critique Paper
Name
Institution

Abstract
Darley and Latane are perhaps the most renowned psychologists in the field of social behavior. This paper is an analytical approach to their works, notably their research following the gruesome murder of Kitty Genovese and the scientific debate that ensued. While they offered what was arguably an excellent response to the queries then, over time, dissenting opinions have been voiced. They opined that the inaction of all 37 witnesses was motivated by sheer human behavior which is easily influenced by surroundings. They stood undisputed for decades prior to dissenting voices being heard. Some of their harshest critics poked holes in their logic, especially arguing that their experiments were established in settings which ignored many significant factors. These factors include prevalent attitudes at the time, general criminal patterns in the area and even factors beyond the reach of the witnesses. For instance, critics have highlighted the difficulty in reaching the police hotline numbers at the time. This paper examines the findings of Darley and Latane vis a vis the thoughts of their critics.

The Kitty Genovese murder opened a divisive and equally informative debate into the possible reactions of individuals when faced by emergencies. These are usually situations which call for the most drastic actions with little or no tangible background and experience to rely upon. As psychologists and scientists were desirous of under…