According to psychologist darley and latane, the "bystander effect" is due less to apathy and more to "" that makes people feel unable to respond to the emergency

Darley and Latane concluded that the bystander effect is due less to apathy and more to "diffusion of responsibility", which makes people feel unable to respond, often because they feel someone else would be more qualified to help and/or do a better job, and that their help may be unneeded or they may face consequences for botching the help. This is made worse when more people are around.