Newman Notices That the Passenger Seated Across from Him on the Subway

question 124

Multiple Choice

Newman notices that the passenger seated across from him on the subway has his eyes closed and hasn't moved in a while. But he looks around and sees that no one else, including those passengers who were on the train when he boarded, seems too concerned about this man. He decides that this probably means there isn't an emergency and the man is not in need of help. This line of thinking epitomizes which of the following concepts?

• A) Stimulus overload
• B) Pluralistic ignorance
• C) Audience inhibition
• D) Diffusion of responsibility

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Definitions:

Anatomic Dead Space

The portion of the respiratory system where gas exchange does not occur, including the nose, trachea, and bronchi, where air is moved in and out without being involved in oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange.

Respiratory Membrane

The thin barrier through which gas exchange occurs between the air in the lungs and the blood in capillaries.

Gas Exchange

The process by which oxygen is taken in and carbon dioxide is expelled, primarily occurring in the lungs between air in the alveoli and blood in the capillaries.

Surface Area

The total area of the outer surface of an object or the boundary covering of a three-dimensional figure.