What phenomenon did Latane and Darley primarily identify in their studies?

Latane and Darley primarily identified the diffusion of responsibility in their studies, particularly in the context of bystander behavior during emergencies. This phenomenon occurs when individuals in a group feel less personally responsible for taking action, as they assume that others will step in. Their research, which included experiments like the famous smoke-filled room and the seizure study, revealed that the presence of more bystanders decreases the likelihood that any one individual will intervene.

This is significant because it highlights how social dynamics can influence individual actions, leading to inaction in situations where help is needed. The diffusion of responsibility illustrates how responsibility is shared among a group rather than resting on the shoulders of a single person, which can result in a failure to act despite the presence of an emergency.

In contrast, the other phenomena listed—social facilitation, group polarization, and social loafing—relate to different aspects of social psychology and group behavior but do not specifically address the effects of group presence on individual responsibility in emergency situations.