Understanding How to Overcome the Bystander Effect

Have you ever heard of The Bystander Effect? If not, reading this post may someday save your life, or someone else’s. Let’s start with a question. If you witnessed an attack, would you help the victim? I think most of us would answer “of course!” It may surprise you that the odds that we’ll help those in distress depend on something completely outside of our control.

Specifically, our response is often determined by the number of people who are around us.

Strangely, the more people who witness the attack, the less likely we are to respond to it. The fewer people around us, the more likely we are to defend or rescue someone. Or to be helped if we are the victim. This phenomenon is known as the Bystander Effect.

The Bystander Effect

The Bystander Effect has been studied since the 1960s. The original research was prompted by a murder that took place in Queens, New York. A woman named Kitty Genovese was attacked and stabbed outside of her apartment. There were 37 witnesses and on-lookers, including neighbors. But no one stepped forward to intervene in the altercation and Kitty died of her injuries.

What Causes the Bystander Effect?

Scientists believe there are two primary reasons for The Bystander Effect.

First, being part of a large crowd allows each of us to assume less responsibility for acting.

The more people there are around us, the less likely we feel it’s up to us to intervene.

So fewer of us make a move.

Second is the fact that we, humans, are influenced by the behavior of those around us.

So, the more people who are not acting, the more likely we are to not act ourselves.

Obviously, for the good of all of us, and also for our own good karma, it’s important to be aware of and do what we can to overcome The Bystander Effect.

Especially if we find ourselves in a situation where we need others to act together with us to save someone in distress.

What Can We Do About It?

Some schools have begun to train students to recognize and mitigate The Bystander Effect.

This is especially relevant if and when they witness an act of bullying, physical aggression or verbal abuse.

This is a step in the right direction. But it seems to me that we would all benefit from this kind of psychological training.

In this training, students are taught to behave as though they are the only witness to a bad situation. And to take an action that let’s an aggressor know they are witnessing their wrong-doing.

Something as simple as asking, “Is there a problem here?” can cause an aggressor to stop what they are doing.

Speaking up also encourages other individuals to do the same.

The more people who take action, the more likely it is that a thief or attacker may be thwarted.

Similarly, if a person is experiencing a medical emergency – if one person dials 911, another may be prompted to take another action to help the person in distress.

What If You Are a Victim of The Bystander Effect?

What happens if you are attacked, or fall and break a leg, and strangers just mill about? Is there action you can take to overcome the Bystander Effect?

Surprisingly, the most effective thing to do is not to yell “Help!”.

Scientists believe the best tactic is to do something to single out individuals in a crowd. Ideally, asking them to do something specific.

For example – if you see a man in a hoodie – yell: “Hey, you in the hoodie! Call 911”.

By addressing individuals, you increase the odds that each person will take action to support you.

And there is strength in numbers, for more reasons than one.

I hope none of us find ourselves in need of this knowledge – but on the off chance that we do – I thought this was worth sharing.

Here’s to overcoming The Bystander Effect, every chance we get.

Thank you, as always, for reading.

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KindCompassCoach

Joan Senio is the founder of KindCompassCoach. Her career includes 20+ years as a private sector corporate executive and 15 years (and counting) as a consultant and coach. The common thread through her professional life has been a commitment to compassionate leadership, including leading and mentoring current and future leaders, and women from all walks of life. KindCompassCoach articles are backed by research and include facts and advice from a wide variety of experts. Joan is a member of the International Organization of Life Coaches, serves as a thought-leader for KuelLife.com and is a regular contributor to PsychReg and Sixty and Me.