Steps For Effective Bystander Intervention

Bystander intervention is the act of stepping in to prevent or stop inappropriate, harmful, or dangerous behavior. This approach can make a significant difference in various situations, from stopping bullying to preventing potential assaults. Understanding how to intervene safely and effectively is crucial for creating a safer, more supportive community. Here, we will explore different scenarios and provide practical tips for bystander intervention.

Steps for Effective Bystander Intervention 

1. Recognize the Situation: It is important to stay alert and be aware of your surroundings. Being able to recognize when something is wrong is the first step to intervention. 
2. Assess for Safety: Ensure your safety and the safety of others. Ensure that intervening does not put you in immediate danger, if so it is best to call for help. Consider your surroundings, is there a way to intervene that reduces risk to yourself or others? Are there others around who can assist? Sometimes, intervening as a group is safer and more effective. 
3. Decide to Take Action: Make the conscious decision to step in. Remember that indifference can lead to harm when intervention can prevent it. 
4. Determine How to Help: Choose the best method for intervention. This can be direct intervention, distraction, or seeking help from others. 

Methods of Intervention

Direct Intervention

Direct intervention is where a person directly addresses the situation or the individuals involved. For example, at school a student sees another student being bullied in the hallway. They walk up to the bully and say, “Hey, that’s not cool. Leave them alone.” By confronting the bully, the bystander directly addresses the harmful behavior. Another example at a college party, someone notices a person being harassed. They approach the harasser and firmly tell them to stop, then stay with the person being harassed to ensure they are safe. 

Distraction

Create a distraction to interrupt the situation and diffuse potential harm. For example, someone notices a person being verbally harassed on the subway. The bystander drops their bag in between them and starts picking up the items, creating a distraction. The interruption gives the victim a chance to move away. Another example at a bar, a bystander sees someone putting something in another person’s drink. They go up to the person whose drink was tampered and start a conversation, giving them a reason to leave their drink and move away from the potential danger. 

Delegation

Seek help from others through delegation. Seeking help from others, such as authorities or individuals who may be in a better position to intervene. At a crowded concert someone collapses. Instead of trying to handle the situation alone, the bystander calls 911 and alerts nearby security of the situation. Another example, a student notices another student has a weapon in their backpack. Instead of intervening directly, they inform a teacher of the potential threat. 

How to Intervene

Situation 1: An employee overhears their coworker making inappropriate comments towards another coworker.

• Direct: “Those comments are inappropriate and make people uncomfortable. Please stop.”
• Distraction: Interrupt with a work-related question or task to divert the conversation.
• Delegation: Report the behavior to a supervisor or HR department.

Situation 2: Two people are arguing loudly in a park, and it looks like it might escalate into a physical fight.

• Direct: Only if it feels safe, step in and say, “Hey, can we all just calm down and talk this out?”
• Distraction: Approach and ask for directions or the time, diverting their attention from the argument.
• Delegation: Notify a park ranger or call local authorities to handle the situation.

Scenario 3: At a house party, a bystander notices someone who seems extremely drunk and is struggling to stand.

• Direct: Approach the person and offer to help them find a place to sit and get some water.
• Distraction: If someone else seems to be taking advantage of the intoxicated person, create a distraction by starting a loud conversation or announcing an activity in another room.
• Delegation: Get the party host involved or find sober friends of the intoxicated person to ensure they are taken care of.

Promoting Proactive Measures

Encouraging a culture of proactive intervention can prevent many harmful situations before they escalate. Attending workshops on bystander intervention can empower individuals with the knowledge and confidence to act. Foster a community environment where people feel responsible for each other’s safety. Promote open discussions about the importance of stepping up and how to do so safely.

Bystander intervention is a powerful tool for preventing harm and promoting safety. By understanding how to assess safety and choosing the best method of intervention whether direct, through distraction, or by delegation individuals can make a significant positive impact. Encouraging proactive behavior and providing education on effective intervention strategies can help create safer, more supportive communities.

Learn more about Bystander Intervention with our free Bystander Intervention Course on PAVE University.