SuperFreakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything

Chapter 3 begins by revisiting the infamous 1964 murder of Kitty Genovese in Queens, New York, a case that is often cited as evidence of pervasive societal apathy. The original narrative pushed by the media claimed that Genovese, a young woman, was pursued by a murderer down the street of her own neighborhood and was slain while resisting and screaming for help. The murderer then just walked away. According to journalists who got their information from the police, 38 neighbors passively witnessed the attack without intervening or even calling 911. This case therefore became a powerful symbol of urban indifference and led to public outcry, with the supposedly indifferent neighbors receiving death threats of their own. However, Levitt and Dubner reexamine this account, pointing out that some neighbors did take action, including shouting at the attacker and attempting to call the police. Though these responses may still be considered inadequate, this reframing highlights the fact that initial reports exaggerated the public’s lack of response. In this way, Levitt and Dubner stress the importance of reexamining the ways in which media narratives can oversimplify human behavior in complex situations. The media’s narrative at the time also pushed for a political backlash against a perceived crime rise, justifying draconian police procedures in “bad” neighborhoods and greater police surveillance overall.