<h2>Bystander Effect</h2>

<p>The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect" rel="nofollow">Bystander Effect</a> could be your answer. The <strong>more people</strong>, the <strong>less</strong> personal <strong>responsibility</strong>. </p>

<ul>
<li>Person gets assaulted and mugged on a <strong>crowded street</strong> in <strong>broad daylight</strong>, <strong>nobody calls</strong> the cops. </li>
<li>Software bugs slow company productivity almost to a halt, <strong>many employees</strong>, <strong>nobody reports</strong> the problem. </li>
</ul>

<hr>

<h2>Tragedy of the Commons</h2>

<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons" rel="nofollow">The tragedy of the commons</a> has been studied from many perspectives. You can use that commons dilemma link as a jumping off point to hopefully happen across something relevant. But <strong>I would start by looking at</strong> the psychology behind the <strong>bystander effect</strong>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-12-07T16:21:24.190Z
Additional note on poor software: People don't blame the designers or programmers for being unable to use their software. They get frustrated and blame themselves. Instead of getting mad at the bad design they just feel stupid. People aren't stupid. It's the people making the software who need to make it usable.
Tyler Langan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-12-07T16:00:07.180Z
2012-12-07T16:16:50.587Z
2012-12-07T16:16:50.587Z
Tyler Langan
<p>Is there a game theory analysis or other research or modeling describing the commonly perceived phenomenon whereby the amount by which people underpay a gratuity seems to be proportional to the number of people at the table?</p>

<p>In other words is there term of art for this behavioral pattern just as we use the phrase "Prisoner's Dilemma" to describe the game theoretical mechanics of two parties who can collude (to their mutual benefit) with risk, or betray their colleague in an effort reduce or eliminate their own risk?</p>

<p>(I would suggest that the mechanisms by which people exploit common resources and by which people fail to invest and maintain such resources (for example ecologically) are similar to this other group dynamic but I'm curious what research has been done on this).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-12-07T18:11:20.397Z
I think it depends on the group. I experienced this more in the past, but lately I would say 3 times out of 4 we end up with a very generous tip at the end, and everybody refuses to take any money back.
Jonathan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-12-07T22:40:32.097Z
Sounds more like a [diffusion of responsibility](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffusion_of_responsibility) scenario.
Chuck Sherrington
<social-psychology><economics><game-theory>
Stiffing the tip as groups get larger ... like the prisoner's dilemma but ...?
Jim Dennis
# Stiffing the tip as groups get larger ... like the prisoner's dilemma but ...?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-12-07)

Is there a game theory analysis or other research or modeling describing the commonly perceived phenomenon whereby the amount by which people underpay a gratuity seems to be proportional to the number of people at the table?

In other words is there term of art for this behavioral pattern just as we use the phrase "Prisoner's Dilemma" to describe the game theoretical mechanics of two parties who can collude (to their mutual benefit) with risk, or betray their colleague in an effort reduce or eliminate their own risk?

(I would suggest that the mechanisms by which people exploit common resources and by which people fail to invest and maintain such resources (for example ecologically) are similar to this other group dynamic but I'm curious what research has been done on this).

**Tags:** social-psychology, economics, game-theory

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I think it depends on the group. I experienced this more in the past, but lately I would say 3 times out of 4 we end up with a very generous tip at the end, and everybody refuses to take any money back.  
> **username_2**: Sounds more like a [diffusion of responsibility](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffusion_of_responsibility) scenario.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2012-12-07. Score: 3

## Bystander Effect

The [Bystander Effect](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect) could be your answer. The **more people**, the **less** personal **responsibility**.

* Person gets assaulted and mugged on a **crowded street** in **broad daylight**, **nobody calls** the cops.
* Software bugs slow company productivity almost to a halt, **many employees**, **nobody reports** the problem.

---

## Tragedy of the Commons

[The tragedy of the commons](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons) has been studied from many perspectives. You can use that commons dilemma link as a jumping off point to hopefully happen across something relevant. But **I would start by looking at** the psychology behind the **bystander effect**.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Additional note on poor software: People don't blame the designers or programmers for being unable to use their software. They get frustrated and blame themselves. Instead of getting mad at the bad design they just feel stupid. People aren't stupid. It's the people making the software who need to make it usable.  

---

