Bystander Inaction
Like 7-Eleven assault, more likely with more witnesses, experts say
A phenomenon known as the bystander effect states that, “people are less likely to help in an emergency when other bystanders are present (Schneider, 2011).” This event occurs as a result of diminished sense of responsibility in the presence of other bystanders who witnessed the emergency occur. Traumatic events may trigger a period of inaction in a public setting where people typically do not involve themselves in situations if other people are present. In several cases, bystanders assume someone else will help and do not take the responsibility on themselves. Witnesses in these situations tend to remain lethargic, detached, and hesitant as they try to process what just happened.
Marques Gaines became the unsuspected victim of assault one early morning. He was found lying motionless in the streets of Chicago after being punched and knocked unconscious. Several people lingered over his stock-stilled body, but no one bothered to carry him out of the traffic-jammed road. No one helped him into a safer spot away from the road. Careless actions led to the preventable fatality of Marques Gaines, who was reported dead after a taxi driver ran him over.
What situational factors contribute to the diffusion of responsibility? Where people tend to not act out or speak up in crowds, because they are unsure of what to think about the existing conflict. In some cases, people do not want to involve themselves because they fear that their own safety may be put at stake. Everyone is going to be put in situations where they do not feel comfortable, but when it comes to being the witness of someone being victimized or in danger, I do not understand how people can sit back and not do anything to help. Too many people assume that other people will do something about it, and move on from the situation. What if you switched places with the person who truly needed your help? How would you feel if they walked away from you? Helping others is a feeling of achievement and pride that builds you into a stronger person. There should not be many exceptions as to why people should not want to help others, unless their life is truly threatened in that situation as well.
Taking moral responsibility for your own actions is important. Although, if you are with a group of spectators following an emergency situation, you should try to communicate with each other and figure out how each of you can best contribute to the situation. You can discuss your personal skills or resources that you may be able to implement to make the best out of the situation, as well as provide help to those who need it. In several cases, bystanders are all experiencing feelings of confusion and hesitance. It takes one person to step up and be a leader. You could possibly save a life one day, and that is one of the most rewarding feelings you could perpetrate (O’Connell & Lee, 2016).
APA CITATION:
Schneider, Frank W., Gruman, Jamie A.,Coutts, Larry. M. (2011). Applied Social Psychology: Intervention and Evaluation (Second Edition, pp. 247).
O’Connell, P. M., & Lee, W. (2016, April 23). Bystander inaction, like 7-Eleven assault, more likely with more witnesses, experts say. Retrieved April 01, 2017, from http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-bystander-effect-bartender-death-met-20160421-story.html
Tags: audience, audience inhibition, avoidance, bystander effect, conflict, diffusion of responsibility, emergency, gaines, psychological retreat, social influences, stimulus overload, victimized, witnesses
Hello, thank you for the thought provoking blog. It is hard to imagine how people could witness other people in trouble but not come to their aid. Horror movies usually take place in rural and suburban settings and one usually thinks, “if this were set in a city, it would have never happened.” That’s certainly not true. According to Schneider, Gruman, & Coutts (2016) people in cities experience stimulus overload which causes them to miss certain things happening around them. It seems as though in the case that you posted, people just did not take the time to help Marques Gaines.
You mentioned that people should take moral responsibility for their actions. How would you have handled the situation differently if you were there? Moreover, how do you think people can be educated to help reduce the bystander effect?
Have a good week,
Christopher
References
Schneider, F. W., Gruman, J. A., & Coutts, L. M. (2012). Applied social psychology: understanding and addressing social and practical problems. Los Angeles: Sage
Hello!
First of all, thank you for your blog post! The example you give about Marques Gaines is tragic and yet all too common. Especially in cities such as Chicago where crime rates and murders rates are staggering and happening everyday. It is almost as if the people living in such areas are so numb to seeing bodies laying in the streets, like it has just become part of their everyday living environment. And that is not right or okay. It really is not normal or should not be normal for people to just step over a body in the middle of the street and go about their daily business. The fear of intervening or helping, fear for their own safety or for embarrassment, should not be so high that no one helps. The lack of morals or empathy should not be so high that no one helps either.
In my blog I discussed how the bystander effect happens even among children as young as elementary school and that lessons on the bystander effect and the factors that inhibit people to help should start to be taught and incorporated into elementary schools. My son getting beat up at recess with three 5th grade classes present and three teachers present and not a single person intervened or helped in anyway is a prime example. Even after I spoke with the teacher to report the incident, immediately I was experiencing diffusion of responsibilities by the teacher. I think children should start to learn and be instilled with at a young age the confidence to help and do the right thing in emergency situations. I feel it would build the person’s confidence right from a young age and help to effectively reduce the bystander effect. As well as possibly help nip bullying in the butt when started in elementary school.
I also agree with and like that you brought up the point and intervention strategy of communication amongst the bystanders within a group. Even if one bystander verbalizes their confusion as to what is going on, then others may be less embarrassed to help or recognize that yes it is an emergency. And then it would also be very helpful for enlisting numerous bystanders from the group to help in various ways instead of just standing around confused or just walking by trying to avoid the whole thing.
Thank you again for your interesting post!
-Shea