Engaged Bystanders

One way to build and enhance community well-being is by encouraging community members to become “engaged bystanders.” An engaged bystander is “someone who intervenes before, during, or after a situation when they see or hear behaviors that promote violence” (NSVRC.org).  

To increase engaged bystander behavior in communities, it’s essential to understand why some individuals do not intervene when they notice something concerning. In fact, many of us have likely witnessed situations that concerned us, but we did not act. There may be good reasons why we choose not to intervene, including not knowing what to do, fear of overstepping or getting involved in some else’s personal affairs, or concerns for personal safety. A key goal of this training is to better equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to successfully intervene and remove the feeling of, “I’d like to help, but I don’t know how,” as a barrier to being an engaged bystander. 

It is important to begin by acknowledging the various reasons why individuals may not intervene. Here are some of the most common reasons.   

Barrier 1: Lack of Perceived Responsibility 

Sometimes individuals do not intervene when they notice something concerning because they do not feel it is their responsibility. They may feel others should intervene instead. This may be particularly true when the person you are concerned about is not a family member or friend. In other instances, people may believe others will intervene, making action on their part unnecessary.  

Healthy communities are those in which members work for the collective good of the community. This means taking action whenever you believe assistance is needed, regardless of who needs that assistance. Additionally, it means taking action regardless of what others do; you should never assume that someone else will take action.  

Barrier 2: Fear of Being Judged 

Sometimes individuals do not intervene when they notice something concerning because they worry about how others might view those actions. Some individuals may not believe their friends, family members, or fellow community members would support their decision to act. Individuals may also fear violating someone’s privacy if they share information with others.  

Respectful communities are those that support members’ decisions to speak up when they notice something concerning. Sharing your concerns with trusted adults to help someone in need does not violate one’s privacy if the intention is to assist that person in accessing resources and preventing more serious outcomes, including violence.    

Barrier 3: Lack of Confidence in One’s Ability to Intervene  

Some individuals do not intervene because they are not confident in their ability to help or they lack an understanding of what resources might exist in their communities. They may also be unaware of what intervention options might exist or they may fear getting involved could cause unforeseen harm to others.  

Helpful communities are those where residents are aware of the resources that exist and have a clear understanding of where to go to access those resources or who to contact to get help. Having confidence in your ability to intervene means being able to identify what options might exist should you determine that some type of action is necessary. It is also connected to your knowledge of existing resources. This training will provide you with information on what options might exist should you notice something concerning. You’ll also learn about specific resources available in your community.    

Barrier 4: Fear for Personal Safety 

Some individuals may worry that intervening could place themselves or their loved ones in danger.  They may fear that either the person of concern or the police could respond in ways that could cause harm.

Safe communities are those where community members are aware of what intervention options exist, including those that enable individuals to share information in a way that protects their identity and uses options other than law enforcement when possible. This training will help you learn what options exist if you determine action is necessary.