The Bystander Effect

Have you ever been walking down the street or driving in your car and witnessed a crime or accident take place in front of your eyes?

From a robbery to a car wreck to someone simply falling down onto their knees, the victims of these events have been led to believe that in their hour of need someone will come to their rescue to help lift them back up and help them to receive the necessary care and assistance they need.

The bystander effect does away with this belief.

The bystander effect occurs when the presence of more witnesses to a crime, accident, or other event decreases the chances of any one of these witnesses coming forward to help the person or persons in distress.

To state this clearly, as the bystander effect is a difficult concept to understand the first time you learn about it:

• The more people who witness a crime or accident, the less likely any one of these individuals will help or report it

• The less people who witness a crime or accident, the more likely any (or all) of these individuals will help or report it

  
  

The reason for this is due largely to the diffusion of responsibility concept. If you are in a large group of people, such as walking down a busy sidewalk, and you see someone fall over and cry out in pain, you will feel little personal responsibility to help this individual, as there are a large number of other people around you who, you tell yourself, are better positioned to help.

How to Prevent the Bystander Effect

While many unique situational factors contribute to the bystander effect, there are ways to avoid being a passive bystander to ensure that you, your friends, and your family are ready to spring into action should your services be needed.

Here’s a short list on how to prevent the bystander effect:

• Act as if you are the sole person witnessing the crime or accident.

• Attend first aid and de-escalation training to make you feel more prepared.

• Remind yourself that you don’t need medical or de-escalation training to be a proactive bystander (what I like to call an “active contributor”). Calling 911 is always better than doing nothing.

  
  

Active contributors can make the difference between life and death for the person under stress. Don’t be a passive bystander. Step up for your community, whether you are in a crowd of one or one hundred.

Have an amazing weekend, folks.

[Source: Benjamin Spall]