Bystander effect
Research in psychology shows that the more people present, the less likely people are to help in an emergency situation (Darley & Latane, 1968). We need to actively choose to overcome the bystander effect and intervene when we witness harmful or inappropriate behaviours, comments or emergency situations. Doing so visibly makes it easier for others to help intervene also.
Proactive bystander intervention
Proactive bystander intervention involves intervening before, during or after a situation where we witness inappropriate behaviours. Bystander intervention fosters a safe environment by challenging unhelpful norms and beliefs within your community groups and interrupting unsafe situations. For example, we can challenge rape jokes, inappropriate sexual comments or harmful sexual behaviour that we come across in everyday life.
- Recognise the behaviour as harmful and needs intervening
- Take personal responsibility to do something
- Safety first: Only intervene if you can do so safely
- Decide how to intervene safely:
- Distract the person engaging in harmful sexual behaviour, while you figure out what to do next.
- Directly address the issue through your words or body language (e.g. tell them that their behaviour isn’t okay)
- Speak up and challenge disrespectful comments: "That comment was out of line", "I don't get what's funny?" "Seriously? Let's move on."
- Show it's not okay through body language: Roll your eyes, shake your head, don't laugh along. If it is safe to do so, stand between the victim-survivor and the person engaging in harmful behaviour
- Delegate for someone else to help out e.g. ask your friend, RA, or the event staff for help
- Delay: If it’s too dangerous, wait for the situation to pass and check in with the victim-survivor(s) and offer support options.
Proactive bystander intervention is about taking action to ensure safety. It isn't about intervening physically, being hostile or escalating the situation.
