The Bystander Effect and How to Stop It
Written by Momo O. ‘25
Imagine a scenario: you’re walking down a street and find someone desperately in need of help, but you don’t see anyone offering a hand. Would you help that person, or would you leave that person alone? No matter where you go (including SJND), you will always see those who need a hand, but society tends to ignore them. Why? It’s none of their business. Someone else will come to the rescue.
I’ve observed that individuals have a tendency to not offer a hand because they think others would do the job for them. The bystander effect — the theory that an individual is less likely to help someone in need when in the presence of others — is the perfect representation of “cop out.” Individuals in a group are more likely to be more comfortable because they know that they’re not alone; hence the phrase, crossing a red light isn’t scary if you cross it with everyone there. Many pretend not to witness anything because they believe the problem isn’t worth their time. The majority usually displays ignorance of those problems, contributing to the desensitization of basic human morals. Those demonstrating the bystander effect can influence others. Desensitization can spread. Immorality can spread.
From what I have seen throughout my 2+ years at SJND, most students here usually side with the majority. Band students here, for example, are supposed to help set and clean up the band equipment for performances. Hypothetically, the setting up and taking down should only take less than 10 minutes if everyone participates in the behind-the-scenes. But it’s typically “somewhat reserved students” who stay there to help with the equipment. Even during the most recent school event, only 3 students from Pep Band were taking the equipment back to the bandroom. The instinct inside the band students said, “It’s okay. Those three are already helping, so I don’t have to do it.” Take this example: The Mean Girls. Do you remember that friend group of the four, very, very mean girls? The “mean girls” bullied many students just because they thought those students were in their way. They knew no one would stop them. There were too many students witnessing the scene; the bystanders perhaps thought a hero would save the weak. Do you see my point now?
Here’s a reminder: I’m not saying being in a friend group is particularly bad. It can, however, sometimes numb you from basic codes of ethics because of the inevitable bystander effect. But how do you prevent the expansion of the effect then? Whenever you have to make a decision in life, observe yourself from an objective perspective. Perhaps you’ll be the hero to rescue the people in need.
