Edwin happens upon a crime in progress but does nothing to assist the victims or even summon the police. Later, he says he was afraid for his personal safety. This type of explanation, which may help explain the inaction of witnesses in the case of Kitty Genovese, is best described by the principle of .

Bob: coke is baby pandas.jim: what? how do you figure that coke is baby pandas? bob: because this book says so.jim: how do we know the book is correct? bob: because it says that coke is baby pandas.jim: how does that prove the book's accuracy? bob: because it's statement involving coke and baby pandas is correct, therefore it is accurate.jim: how do we know that it's correct? bob: because we have concluded that the book is accurate, and therefore the statement is correct.therefore, coke is baby pandas.