Taken from “Step UP!Be a Leader, Make a Difference”

With permission: Step UP (University of Arizona) Author: Becky Bell

Saint Louis University:How to be an Active Bystander

Goals for StudentsRecognize reasons why people may not

interveneDevelop specific intervention skillsIncrease motivation and confidence to helpEmpower participants to act on their valuesCreate a safer, healthier, more caring

environment

What Variables Affect Intervening?Individual- A person’s knowledge, skill set,

confidence, sense of social responsibility, etc.Situational- Severity of need; are there other

people around? What are the costs of helping?

Victim- Do you know the person? Do you think they deserve help? Will they accept help?

Which do you think is the most important in determining whether or not someone will intervene?

IndividualSituational

Usually stands in the way of intervening Victim

5 Step Decision Making ModelNotice the EventInterpret it as the problemAssume personal responsibilityKnow how to helpIntervene

All 5 steps must occur if help is to be given. Failure at any one of the steps will result in no help.

Pay AttentionIt’s easy to miss something you’re not looking

for People are distracted (texting, phone

browsing, etc)Pay attention to what is going on around you.

Always have an exit plan if necessary!

Interpret the Event as a problemA. AmbiguityA. Ambiguity

Interpret the event as a problem- Is it a problem? Is it not? It’s sometimes hard to tell if someone is in need of help.

Interpret the Event as a problemB. ConformityB. ConformityPressure types:

Informational Influence- when you think someone knows more than you do, or has more info than you, you follow their lead

Pluralistic Ignorance- the majority know there is something wrong but no one else looks concerned so you think you must be the only one and thus you don’t do anything

Normative Influence- you go along with the group to fit in, to be liked or to be accepted by the group Related:

Groupthink- when members try to minimize conflict and research consensus without critically testing and evaluating ideas.

Spiral of silence- if one thinks they are in the minority they are less likely to voice an opinion. SO people who don’t directly engage in a problematic situation still contribute to the problem with their silence.

StrategiesIf something is

ambiguous, look into it! • Ask questions! • Be mindful of group

pressure or groupthink and prepared to react to it.

• Break through pluralistic ignorance and the Spiral of Silence and TAKE A STAND!

If not YOU, then WHO?Research shows that if you are alone you will

help 80% of the time but if you are in a group you will help only 20% of the time because of the diffusion of responsibility

Do not rationalize away responsibilityVerbalize your intentionsEngage others

Death in a crowded place-Kitty Genovese

• For more than half an hour thirty-eight citizens in Queens watched a killer stalk and stab a woman in three separate attacks in Kew Gardens.

• In the police report afterwards stated “one phone call could have saved her life.”

The BridgeGirl attacked on a bridge in

Detroit with many bystanders there. There was a police station on the other side of the bridge and people had cell phones. On the bridge there was bumper to bumper traffic. This young lady rear-ended the man’s car. He went into a rage, pulled her out of her car, and beat her. He went back to his car, got a jack and attacked her again with the car jack. She had no choice but to jump into the river to escape her attacker. She could not swim and drowned.

Know How toLearn direct and indirect skills- People WANT

to help but don’t know what to do or how to do it. Participating in Greendot can give you the skills to help.

Be Prepared- think about what you would do in certain situations so when and if that situation arises, you will have a game plan.

Know resources (can you shout some out on and off campus?)

Implement and InterveneCarefully consider the situation before taking

any actionBE THE FIRST!Create shared and agreed upon standards of

behavior and expectations within any group or organization

Consider the costs of NOT interveningWhat are the possible costs?Look at what happened to the girl on the

bridge and Kitty Genovese. What are the potential costs for situations that you see on a daily basis?

Hazing…The idea of Obedience to AuthorityHow would you feel if something tragic

happened here at SLU?How could you break the Spiral of Silence

and Pluralistic Ignorance?Perspective taking will be a key question in

the scenarios we do later in the training.

Bystander StrategiesS.E.E. Model

Safe- Never put yourself in harm’s way but talk to someone, make a phone call (911) and engage others

Early- intervene early BEFORE the problem becomes a crisis/disaster

Effective- Know what to do and how to do it. Remember the law of Delivery (who, what, when, where, why and how)

Emergency HelpStay CalmGather infoConsider options- direct and indirectProvide support but do not be enmeshedKnow your limits-walk away if it’s unsafe!

Non-Emergency HelpingConsider frequency, duration, and severityDefine the problem and the barriersDetermine the goal; develop a game planSet boundaries-don’t enableMaintain respectConsider options; know referrals

Friends Helping FriendsMany times people don’t know how to

approach someone or what to say. Although students don’t have to use this exact language or these exact words, the general approach can be very effective. I careI seeI feelI wantI will

Consequential ThinkingIf I choose TO________________If I choose NOT TO____________

Benefits/Costs

Top 5 Reasons we DID interveneIt was the right thing to doI would want someone to help me in that

situationSomeone needed helpTeammates should look out for each otherSo the situation wouldn’t escalate