Bystander intervention is growing in popularity as a method for preventing sexual assault and domestic violence. Programs like Alteristic's Green Dot shift the onus of prevention from the victim to the general public. Prevention efforts historically had two goals: teaching women what they can do to stay safe (e.g., using the buddy system, avoiding dark alleys, or carrying mace) and teaching men to avoid the violence that would make them perpetrators. Green Dot operates differently because it recognizes the power of any person to intervene in any situation of domestic violence or sexual assault. Whether stepping up to prevent same-sex, male-on-female, or female-on-male violence, becoming an active bystander involves knowing the warning signs and practicing strategies for de-escalating the situation. 

 

    To develop those safe intervention skills, the Green Dot program teaches "the three Ds": direct, addressing the perpetrator or victim (e.g., ask the victim if he or she needs help); distract, finding a diversion that de-escalates the situation (e.g., ask the perpetrator for directions); and delegate, asking someone else for help (e.g., call the police). These research-backed programs have proven successful on college campuses, high schools, and military installations. Data also indicate that they discourage victim-blaming, change sexist attitudes, and increase the likelihood that those trained in these programs become more engaged bystanders. 

 

    Despite the efficacy of bystander intervention programs, these trainings might not seem necessary. This impression is especially prevalent in a place like the Golden Heart City where Fairbanksans are always willing to help other Fairbanksans. However, even the most well-intentioned Fairbanksan faces several roadblocks to successful bystander intervention. What are some of these roadblocks that make someone a passive bystander who’s unwilling or unable to intervene? 

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   The first roadblock to bystander intervention is the diffusion of responsibility. Psychologists coined the term "Genovese Syndrome," otherwise known as the diffusion of responsibility, to describe the passivity of onlookers during the rape and murder of New Yorker Catherine "Kitty" Genovese. In 1964, as Genovese cried for help outside of her apartment, as many as a dozen people failed to intervene. It was only after the attack that two people called the police, and Genovese died on the way to the hospital. Her story is emblematic of a psychological phenomenon: as the number of bystanders increases, the likelihood that they will intervene decreases. 

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   Even if bystanders overcome Genovese syndrome, they face two other roadblocks to intervention: cultural individualism and not knowing how to help. In individualism versus collectivism, one of the cultural indices developed by Geert Hofstede, Americans are on the individualistic side of the spectrum (it should be noted that neither side of the spectrum is "good" or "bad;" rather, individualism versus collectivism is a range of preferences that have their pro's and con's). In other words, they have loosely-knit social networks, and their sense of care is often limited to themselves and their immediate family. Unlike collectivist cultures where "good Samaritan" laws punish people for failing to provide first aid, bystanders in America might not intervene in a crisis simply because they don't "have" to.

 

   Finally, bystanders who want to intervene often don't know how to. In Fairbanks, survey data indicate that the majority (over 60 percent) of respondents believe community members should get involved in preventing domestic violence and sexual assault. However, only 28.6 percent of respondents believe the community knows how to get involved in preventing domestic violence. Likewise, only 24.7 percent believe the community knows how to get involved in preventing sexual assault. How, then, can those who want to get involved help prevent sexual assault and domestic violence (including de-escalating a violent situation)?

 

   First, understand that for every story of someone who failed to intervene, there's a story of someone who did. While many experience setbacks like Genovese syndrome, there are also those who exhibit great heart and courage in helping someone in need. From Make Your Move, there's a story of a Missoula bar-goer who intervened when a trans woman was verbally attacked for using the women's restroom. Consider also the stories from Student Success where bystanders intervened in fights and helped an intoxicated person who couldn't express consent. There's even an entire TV show dedicated to the bystander effect and the people who overcome it. In What Would You Do?, a show that uses actors and hidden cameras, people intervene to stop fictional kidnappings, scams, and assaults. Stories of successful intervention show us that, while barriers exist, people can overcome them (and they do all the time). 

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   The second way to overcome barriers is to complete a bystander intervention training. This advice may sound obvious because it suggests that, in order to intervene as a bystander, one should complete bystander intervention training. What isn’t obvious, however, is that programs like Green Dot not only train bystanders in the how of intervention but also in the why. As the aforementioned data show, these programs help bystanders overcome those community norms that prevent them from intervening. These programs also work because they don't ask participants to fundamentally change anything about themselves. Rather, they give participants the tools to intervene regardless of their disposition. For example, a shy person might not feel comfortable using the direct tactic from the "three Ds" of intervention, but he or she could delegate someone else to help. Whether it's changing sexist attitudes or teaching people to intervene in a way that feels safe, these programs make violence a community-wide rather than an individual problem. 

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   Genovese syndrome, cultural individualism, and not knowing how to help are all barriers to successful bystander intervention. They can, however, be overcome with courageous examples of successful intervention and bystander intervention training. Think about someone you know who's helped another in need. In the Golden Heart City, we need not think long before we find an example. Fairbanksans look out for Fairbanksans, and going from a passive to an active bystander is one way to look out for each other. Addressing violence in our community is what will make it safe and supportive for all. 

 

   The Green Dot tagline is "No one can do everything but everyone can do something." What can you do to help your community? 
 

To learn more about bystander intervention in your community, visit 

https://safefairbanks.org/green-dot

 

   

Sources 

 

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Make Your Move. "Bystander Intervention Stories." http://www.makeyourmovemissoula.org/

 

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McFadden, Robert D. “Winston Moseley, Who Killed Kitty Genovese, Dies in Prison at 81.” New 

 

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Winston-moseley-81-killer-of-kitty-genovese-dies-in-prison.html. Accessed 3 Sept. 2020. 

 

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