I remember learning about the “bystander effect'' in AP Psych in the 12th grade. The bystander effect is a phenomenon that proclaims individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when there are other people present. I always thought, “That would never be me, I would speak up.” Don’t we all think that? We all assume ourselves to be someone who stands up and shouts for the little man, showing the world our moral compass always points north, and we will defend those who need us.
But is it that simple?
There have been countless times where I probably did not speak up when I should have. It’s hard! But it is necessary to hold ourselves accountable and speak up for those who need our help.
My evolution from high school to college has been focused on making myself become someone that stands up for something. Who are we if we don’t stand for something? What becomes of our morals if we falter to stand up for them?
It takes a lot for us to stand up for what is right, but it leads to the advancement of a better and safer community. Recognizing what being a bystander is, along with adopting traits that will make us an active bystander, is central to creating healthy communities.
This year, the ASU Sexual and Relationship Violence Program is excited to launch our You Can Do Something Campaign, centered around bystander empowerment. We can be the change we wish to see.
It’s scary to be the first voice to speak out, I get it! But how many times have you found yourself in a situation, feeling lost, wishing there was somebody there to speak out for you?
I’ve realized I have a moral obligation to the people around me to make my voice heard and defend what is right, even if my voice is shaking in the process. If not me, then who?
First, we want to identify and intervene. If you hesitate to step into a situation that looks off putting, ask yourself, “Am I feeding into some intrinsic bias I have against this community member?” Biases’ are, unfortunately common to us all, but being knowledgeable of our biases help us recognize them and work to combat them.
Often, people of color, people in the LGBTQ community, immigrants, etc, have unfair biases placed on them due to years of stereotypes and dehumanization tactics. These biases play a role in if someone chooses to step in or not, making it important for us to be hyper aware of our biases and do the work to reverse them. Everyone deserves to have someone speak up for them and help them when the time comes. Recognize your bias and intervening to help someone is an incredibly noble thing to do, and it will help people who have historically been left out of the dialogue. Remember, you can do something.
Next, consider safety. Is it safe for you to intervene? If safety is a concern, you can still help through seeking the assistance of others or contacting an emergency service. That in itself is the act of an empowered bystander–to do something and reach out to others for help.
There are four D’s to be aware of when it comes to bystander empowerment: Direct, distract, delegate, and delay.
Direct action involves speaking out, through and through. Always make sure it is safe to intervene before doing so. This can look like simply saying, “I am not okay with what you’ve said,” or, “Please leave them alone,” depending on the situation. It’s quick, straight to the point, and a way to utilize our voices for the betterment of our community.
Distract involves stepping into a potentially unsafe situation and distracting either party, by saying things such as, “Hey! Aren’t you in my 101 class?” or just simply interrupting to say, “Hey!” This can steer the conversation away from potential harm and distract the situation. In doing that, you were an empowered bystander!
Equally important is delegating, which is when we delegate responsibility to others in order to take control of the situation. This can look like commanding someone to call an Uber, asking someone to contact emergency services while you wait alongside the victim/survivor, etc. This step is just as impactful with bystander empowerment, as it shows your willingness to not only step up, but direct others to the best course of action in order to better assist you.
Lastly, delaying contact can be beneficial as well. You might have seen something the day prior, and you didn’t say anything at the time. Maybe it wasn’t safe to say something at the time, or you hesitated. Regardless, checking in with the victim/survivor can go a long way, as it shows your concern, care, and your awareness of the situation at all. Simply saying, “I saw what happened earlier, are you okay?” goes a long way.
College is a big place, and it is easy to feel lost amidst it all. But when we stand up for people who might not even know we’re watching, it can revolutionize our own world and the world of others. An act of kindness and care, such as bystander empowerment, is a huge step towards a safer, kinder tomorrow.
Our You Can Do Something Campaign aims to remind the community that you don’t have to be limited in being a bystander, the way the traditional ‘bystander effect,’ has us believe. Instead, we aim to reinforce the notion that community members can speak up and help those around them in a safe and cautious way. There will, inevitably, be times where you are not the best equipped to step in, but maybe you can utilize a resource such as finding a trusted adult, using your phone to contact someone, etc, in order to assist someone who needs help in that moment.
When we learned about the bystander effect in 12th grade, our teacher emphasized the urgency of learning about it–because when we know about it, we can change our course of action. We won’t succumb to the idea of bystander apathy. Rather, we will step in and help those who need it most.
You CAN do something, and your community is better off because of it. For more information visit Bystander Empowerment on sexuaviolenceprevention.asu.edu.
Sahara Sajjadi
She/her
Senior
Political Science