Tactic 45 of 99
The Pointed Finger
In a crowd, nobody helps. Point at one person and they will.
What it is
In a group, people often wait for someone else to act. John Darley and Bibb Latané studied this “bystander effect” in the 1960s: the more people around, the less likely any one of them is to help. Responsibility gets spread thin. Naming a specific person pulls it back into one pair of hands.
Spot it
Everyone waiting for someone else. A request to “someone” that nobody picks up. You, assuming someone else has it covered.
Counter it
If something needs doing and you see it, assume no one else has done it. Act, or point at someone. In an emergency, it could save a life.