The Cost of Silence: Kitty Genovese and how her case changed psychology
- Kenshin Y
- Sep 14
- 5 min read
Updated: Nov 18
“For more than half an hour, 38 respectable, law-abiding citizens… watched a killer stalk and stab a woman.”
This was the shocking headline of a New York Times article published on March 27, 1964. It came two weeks after 28-year-old Kitty Genovese was killed in Queens, New York. Kitty Genovese’s case would soon raise outrage, fear, and a critical question:
Why didn’t anyone help?
Kitty Genovese’s story, which started as a brutal murder, became one of the most famous and misunderstood cases in American history. Genovese’s case changed how people viewed human behaviour, inspiring groundbreaking psychological research and even the creation of the national 911 emergency system.
The Night of March 13, 1964
It was just after 3 AM when Genovese parked her car in Kew Gardens, Queens, after finishing her shift as a bar manager. She was simply walking to her apartment when suddenly, Winston Moseley attacked her, stabbing her once in the back.
She screamed that she had been stabbed, loud enough to grab the attention of those around her. Lights from apartments switched on, and witnesses peered out their windows to view the chaos.
Moseley had disappeared briefly but returned minutes later. Seeing her limp and collapsed in an alleyway, he decided to continue his attack, stabbing her several more times, sexually assaulting her, and finally stealing her money before running away.
By the time help arrived, Genovese was barely alive and died on the way to the hospital
The crime was horrific, but instead, it was the reactions from witnesses at the scene that captured the world’s attention.
The Headline That Shook America
Two weeks later, the New York Times had published an article with a bold title claiming “37 Who Saw Murder Didn’t Call the Police”. The article stated that multiple people had heard or seen the attack and did nothing.
Unsurprisingly, the public was outraged. Many became enraged over their lack of concern and sympathy, and the thought that Genovese could have still been alive if someone had called the police lingered in their minds. How could anyone simply turn their back on a dying woman? This phenomenon of “indifferent witnesses” would ultimately have a significant impact on psychological research.
However, decades later, journalists made discoveries that revealed the truth to be more complex.
In a 2007 article in American Psychologist, written by Manning, Levine, and Collins, they revealed that
Most witnesses heard but did not see the attack
Many simply thought it was just a personal argument
At least two people did, in fact, call the police
One neighbour had actually been by Genovese’s side as she lay suffering
The story that “nobody did anything” was disproved, but at the time, it was alarming enough to create changes and developments in social psychology forever
The Birth of the Bystander Effect
The Genovese case caught the attention of psychologists, Bibb Latané and John Darley.
They wanted to understand why some people fail to help out in emergencies.
Through their studies, they discovered the bystander effect.
Bystander Effect: The idea that the more people witness an emergency, the less likely it is that any one person would help
Three key psychological concepts were also discovered:
Diffusion of responsibility: If there are many people around, each person would assume that someone else would take action
Pluralistic ignorance: If people see that no one else reacts, people would just assume that nothing is wrong
Evaluation apprehension: The fear of embarrassment or making a mistake prevents people from taking action
However, recent studies continue to refine the original theory of the Bystander Effect. They now show that bystanders do help more often, especially when:
The danger is obvious
The victim is someone they know personally or can relate to
The bystanders know each other
In reality, human behaviour is more complex than what the Genovese headline initially suggested.
The Smoke-Filled Room Experiment
In a famous experiment, Latané and Darley put people in a waiting room. When smoke began filling the room, people who were alone quickly reported it. But when participants were with others who stayed silent, most of them did nothing.
This experiment taught us that we normally look to others before making actions, and if no one does, we often wouldn’t as well.
The Law: The American Bystander Rule
In USA, the American Bystander Rule states that you do not have a legal obligation to help a stranger in danger unless:
You created the danger
You have a special relationship with the victim e.g. parent-child
Good Samaritan laws in many states also protect people from liability when they help, but these laws do not require people to intervene.
This actually contrasts other countries, such as France and Germany, whereby not helping can be a criminal offence.
The Birth of 911
One of the most remarkable changes that came from the Genovese was the creation of the 911 emergency hotline
In 1964, there was no direct and easy way for people to call the police for help. They had to know the direct number for their local police precinct, which was ineffective and inconvenient.
After the case gained nationwide attention, the call from citizens for a standardised emergency line started to grow. By 1968, the 911 hotline was created and till today, it is still used all over USA, credited with saving countless lives.
Cultural Impacts
Kitty Genovese’s case has been retold in psychology textbooks, documentaries, and TV shows.
In 2015, Genovese’s brother, Bill Genovese, directed a documentary called “The Witness”, which discusses the crime and myths surrounding it. It examines the complexity of human behaviour and how the truth is not always what it seems.
Timeline of Events
March 13th 1964, 3:15 AM - 4:15 AM
3:15 AM: Genovese is attacked by Moseley outside her apartment in Kew Gardens, Queens.
3:15 – 3:20 AM: First stabbing occurs. Genovese screams for help. Lights come on in nearby apartments. Moseley flees briefly.
3:20 – 3:35 AM: Moseley returns and attacks again.
3:35 – 3:50 AM: At least two calls are made to police. One neighbour rushes to Genovese's side as she lies dying.
4:15 AM: Genovese dies on the way to the hospital.
March 27th 1964
New York Times publishes “37 Who Saw Murder Didn’t Call the Police”
1968
First 911 emergency call is made in Haleyville, Alabama, partly influenced by the Genovese case.
1969 - 1970s
Psychologists Latané and Darley publish research on the Bystander Effect and other key psychological concepts.
2007
Study debunks parts of the “silent witnesses article” in American Psychologist.
2015
Documentary titled The Witness released, directed by Kitty’s brother Bill Genovese
Personal Takeaway
I believe that the Genovese case is not just about the Bystander Effect or the creation of the 911 hotline. It is also about the choices we make when faced when seeing others in pain.
It’s easy to say that we would do something but perhaps in the heat of the moment, uncertainty and fear could overwhelm us and we might make a wrong decision. The psychological reasonings behind this are not excuses, but calls to awareness, and we need to learn how to overcome this.
Because sometimes, the cost of silence could be deadly.
This is such a good read!