What do we call the phenomenon where individuals feel less accountable to help when in a group?

The phenomenon where individuals feel less accountable to help when in a group is referred to as the bystander effect. This effect occurs when the presence of others discourages an individual from intervening in a situation where help is needed. When people are in a group, they may assume that someone else will take action, leading to a diffusion of responsibility. Consequently, the likelihood of any single person offering assistance decreases as the number of onlookers increases.

The other options relate to different concepts. Social loafing describes a tendency for individuals to put in less effort when they are part of a group compared to when they work alone, but it doesn't specifically address the decision to help in emergencies. Cognitive load refers to the total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory, which is unrelated to group dynamics and helping behavior. Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged and excessive stress, typically linked to work-related contexts, rather than group interactions in helping situations.