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Bystander Intervention

Bystander Intervention

What is a Bystander? What is the Bystander Effect?

A bystander is any person who is present at an event or incident but does NOT take part.

The bystander effect is when multiple people are witnessing a problematic situation, but no one does anything about it because they assume someone else will help. This results in the Diffusion of Responsibility, or no one taking responsibility for doing something to help. (Fischer et al. 2011 The Bystander-Effect)

What is Bystander Intervention?

Bystander Intervention involves developing the awareness, skills, and courage needed to intervene in a situation when another individual needs help. Bystander interventions allow individuals to send powerful messages about what is acceptable and expected behavior in our community.

Five Step Decision-Making Model

Notice the Event
Interpret the Event as a problem
Take personal responsibility to intervene
Decide how you are going to intervene
Take action to intervene

Rules for Bystander Intervention

Do NOT put yourself at risk
Do NOT make the situation worse
TIP: Intervene at the earliest point possible (which does not necessarily mean confronting), look for early warning signs of trouble and ask for help

The Three "D's" of Bystander Intervention

Direct

Inserting yourself directly into the potentially harmful event and stopping it. For example, asking the person who looks uncomfortable if they are ok, telling the person making sexist jokes, that they are offensive.

Delegate

If you feel unsafe or uncomfortable, getting someone else to intervene, who may be better equipped to handle the situation. For example, calling IUPD if you seea situation about to escalate into physical violence or reporting to an RA when you hear yelling coming from your next door neighbor in your campus residence.

Distract

Difusing a potentially harmful situation by distracting those involved and interrupting the event. For example, pretending to know the person(s) involved and asking about a class assignment or spilling a drink on one of the people involved.

We all have a responsibility to create a safe, supportive, and inclusive IU Indianapolis community!