Skip to content 
The “bystander effect” is a psychological phenomenon that refers to the idea that people are less likely to help a victim when other people are present. Understanding the reasons behind the bystander effect and learning how to overcome this problem can be highly beneficial both for individuals and for entire communities.
Our article will explain the history of the term, review the most common examples of the bystander effect, and offer a few solutions you can implement in your life to avoid the consequences of the bystander effect. We have also included a Frequently Asked Questions section to address the most typical inquiries regarding this subject.
What is the Bystander Effect?
The bystander effect is a social psychological theory according to which the presence of other people discourages an individual from intervening in an emergency. The likelihood of a person stepping up to help is inversely related to the number of bystanders – if a person sees someone in trouble when they are not alone, they may choose not to get involved.
There are several reasons behind the bystander effect – people may feel they do not have enough information about the situation, rely on others in the group to de-escalate the confrontation, or worry about the negative implications of their involvement. Nonetheless, this phenomenon is viewed as a negative reaction – it is advised to combat the bystander effect instead of passively hoping someone else will resolve the issue in front of you.
Treat Mental Health
History of the Bystander Effect
The origins of the bystander effect date back to the 60s. In March of 1964, a young woman named Kitty Genovese was murdered outside her apartment building in New York – according to the New York Times article published at the time, 38 witnesses failed to help the woman or call the police. While the accuracy of the report was questioned in the future, the publicity of the story led to the research of the bystander effect and the factors associated with it.
Two social psychologists, Bibb Latané and John Darley, were the first to research and define the bystander effect. In 1968, they demonstrated the validity of the theory – their experiments showed that the more bystanders witness the emergency, the less likely they are to offer help to the victim. The murder of Kitty Genovese and the subsequent research of Latané and Darley were pivotal for the introduction of the 911 emergency system in 1968.
Causes of the Bystander Effect
There are multiple reasons to explain the bystander effect:
Presence of Other People. When a person is alone, they are more likely to react to the problem in front of them. However, if there are several bystanders, an individual may choose to rely on their reaction to decide that someone else is better equipped to help the victim.
Peer Pressure. Sadly, in many cases, offering a helping hand may seem like an unreasonable thing to do. When a person is surrounded by their peers who are trivializing the plight of the victim, they may succumb to the pressure of the group and do nothing.
Fear of Negative Consequences. A person may be reluctant to assist the victim either because they have no knowledge of the situation or due to their lack of confidence – this is typical for a person who struggles to speak their mind, afraid of backlash.
Treat Mental Health
Examples of the Bystander Effect
Here are a few instances of the bystander effect:
Bullying. One of the reasons why bullies feel empowered is the lack of reaction from the people who witness their behavior. Very often, bystanders refuse to stand up to the bully or support the victim, choosing to remain uninvolved.
Workplace Misconduct. When a person is harassed at work, there may be people who see or hear the inappropriate remarks of the bully or supervisor who abuses their authority. In many cases, employees prefer to protect their careers and stay silent instead of reporting the bully.
Public Confrontation. Imagine seeing two people arguing on the street – most passersby will not stop to check what is going on, especially if the fight does not seem physical. Still, it is possible to approach the people who are having a loud disagreement in public and assist them.
How to Overcome the Bystander Effect
Follow these steps to combat the bystander effect:
Recognize the Behavior. The next time you are a witness to an emergency or confrontation, pay attention to your reaction. Do you feel inclined to help? Are you stopping yourself from stepping up because the people around you are not doing anything?
Build Up Your Confidence. It may be difficult to put a stop to harmful behavior when you struggle with self-confidence. Work on your personal development, surround yourself with supportive friends, and memorize a few phrases you can say to de-escalate a dangerous situation.
Talk to Your Peers. If you have noticed the bystander effect is common in your friend group or workplace, bring it up. You may organize a seminar to teach people about the dangers of the bystander effect and remind your peers that stepping up to help the person in trouble is the right thing to do.
Treat Mental Health
