While the Bystander Effect exists, it remains largely unnoticed by the public. Understanding the Bystander Effect empowers people to overcome the tendency to passively witness harmful situations and encourages active intervention, potentially preventing tragic consequences for those in need.

The Bystander Effect is a social-psychological theory that states that people are less likely to help a victim in the presence of other people. The concern lies in the uncertainty of whether someone else will intervene if we refrain from taking matters into our own hands. This doesn’t necessarily mean putting ourselves in life-threatening situations, but it does emphasize the importance of a response, such as calling for help from the police. 

Social psychologists Bibb Latané and John Darley popularized the Bystander Effect concept following the infamous 1964 murder of Kitty Genovese in New York City.  The 28-year-old woman was stabbed to death outside her apartment, and it was reported that dozens of neighbors who witnessed the incident failed to assist or call the police. According to Latané and Darley, there was a diffusion of responsibility, which occurred when more observers were present, reducing the sense of personal responsibility for action. They also emphasized social influence, stating that people frequently look to the behavior of those around them to determine how to act.

People react differently to given situations. When confronted with danger, some people naturally freeze, which is a fear-based reaction. Overthinking can also play a role, as one may feel too overwhelmed to offer assistance or may misinterpret a threat, leading them to believe that intervening may pose a risk when, in fact, there is no imminent danger. It emphasizes the complexities of human responses and the potential difficulties in determining and reacting to various situations.

Bystanders can actively intervene to cease bullying and other crimes. Developing awareness or even participating in training to address such situations can help overcome social and behavioral paralysis. One technique is to act as if there are no witnesses present and accept responsibility. When one person takes action, such as loudly announcing, “Hey, the cops are on their way!” it can encourage other witnesses to become more involved. So, in a crisis, don’t rely on other people to act first. Even a simple shout from you directed at the offender can cause stress and potentially prevent accidents. Furthermore, giving instructions to others and encouraging collective action can be essential.

Very often we operate on autopilot and don’t have time to collect our thoughts. If we want to change this we should use the SQUID method. This is another solution to a crisis situation that increases mindfulness and allows you to make the right choices. SQUID includes 5 steps: Stop, Question, Understand, Imagine and Decide.

1. Stop when something feels wrong. It’s important to be able to deactivate our autopilot. The sooner we notice signs of trouble, the faster we may be able to assist. 
2. Question. Ask evaluative questions about what we’ve noticed, and question our own assumptions.
3. Understand the situation. We can make better decisions about what to do next if we take a few moments to look beyond our first impressions and consider the bigger picture. Look for more than one perspective about what is happening and why.
4. Imagine your choices. As we try to improve on our understanding, we can consider our options. One of the reasons we act without thinking is that we don’t consider what might happen next.
5. Decide what we want to do next. Even if we choose to remain passive and follow our instincts, we will have practiced wise self-questioning before making that decision. Waiting for clarification or avoiding involvement may be the best option at the moment.

When we feel a threat, our first reaction may be to avoid the situation by running as far away from the incident as possible. However, we should keep in mind that we can sometimes prevent threats by responding appropriately. That is why, before running away, it is important to consider whether it is a good choice. Let us put ourselves in the shoes of the victim. How would we feel if we were in their position? We have the ability to positively impact someone’s life.

Aleksandra Szumielewicz

Sources:

Psychologytoday.com – Bystander Effect

Psychologytoday.com – We Do Not Have to Be Passive Bystanders

Wikipedia.org – Bystander Effect