Teachers Against Bullying February 2013 | Page 25

The avoidant bystander

Similar to victim bystanders in that they passively allow the bullying to take place, avoidant bystanders “might facilitate victimizing by denying personal responsibility” for the bullying.[14] This type of bystander refuses to acknowledge that there is a problem.[15] Actively trying to stay under the “radar” of the bully, the avoidant bystander “makes every effort to distance himself from the fracas because he just doesn’t want the hassle.”[16]

The abdicating bystander

Someone else will call for help or step in…. The abdicating bystander “blame[s] others and expect[s] someone else to solve the problems.”[17] Instead of taking responsibility for their ability to do something to help, the abdicating bystander “might use scapegoating to shed responsibility” for helping a victim of bullying. [18] Also passive, like the victim and avoidant bystanders, the inaction of people who abdicate their responsibility as witnesses to do something to help victims, contributes to the harm being done to that victim.

The altruistic bystander

Unlike the other categories of bystanders, the altruistic bystander might take action to come to the defense of the victim. This bystander “might mobilize personal or social resources to help reduce or even stop bullying.”[19] Instead of contributing or condoning the victimization of the target child, this bystander might seek out help from an adult or person of authority, they may try to intervene in the bullying verbally or physically, and they might try to comfort the victim instead of hurt or ignore them. “In many incidents, when peer bystanders intervene against bullying, it tends to stop quickly.” [20]

Don't be a Bystander - Anti Bullying

Diffusion Of Responsibility

or

“The Bystander Effect”

A psychological phenomenon

where "individuals do not offer any means of help in an emergency situation to the victim when other people are present.

The probability of help has often appeared to be inversely related to the number of bystanders; in other words, the greater the number of bystanders, the less likely it is that any one of them will help. The mere presence of other bystanders greatly decreases intervention. In general, this is believed to happen because as the number of bystanders increases, any given bystander is less likely to notice the situation, interpret the incident as a problem, and less likely to assume responsibility for taking action."[21]

"One person is likely to assist someone who clearly needs help. In a group, (3 or more) no one person feels it’s their job to take action (Darley & Latane did the first lab experiments on this in 1968).

In groups, our individual judgment is subsumed; we monitor others for their reaction, and figure that if they deem the situation is serious, someone else will step forward. If no one takes initiative, that’s enough social proof to justify

our inaction."[22]