Lucas walks around his busy college campus between classes. He notices smoke coming from the side of the cafeteria, but assumes that someone inside already has called the fire department. What phenomenon does this example illustrate?

a. the just-world hypothesis

b. diffusion of responsibility

c. deindividuation

d. groupthink

B. Diffusion of responsibility

Explanation:

Diffusion of responsibility refers to the phenomenon whereby an individual is less likely to take responsibility for an action/inaction because he believes since others are present they are the ones responsible ... Under this sociopsychological phenomenon therefore, the individual assumes others should take action private responsive for taking action and might have already done so.