Definition: Bystander effect describes the phenomenon in which people observing an emergency fail to act when in the presence of other bystanders. The bystander effect is attributed to pluralistic ignorance, where bystanders assume nothing is wrong because nobody else looks concerned. (Latan, B. and Darley, J.)
Application: The bystander effect can be observed in emergency situations, for instance, a medical emergency in which no on-lookers call for help.
Adaptation: As community developers, one of our roles is to address the bystander effect, both by creating a culture of bystanders intervention, and by giving them the tools to do so in order to achieve communities of mutual care and support. An example of such an education is the "Change it Up" program recently initiated at the University of Michigan. This mandatory bystander-intervention training challenges students to recognize the causes of inaction (fear of embarrassment, uncertainty as to how to act, uncertainty as to the seriousness of the situation), and to become active bystanders when they observe their peers in potentially unsafe situations, such as excessive drinking, or expressing suicidal warning signs.
Latan, B. and Darley, J. (1970) The Unresponsive Bystander: Why Doesn't He Help? Englewood Cliffs, NJ. Prentiss Hall.
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