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🎠social psychology review

Bystander Intervention Model

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

The bystander intervention model is a psychological framework that explains the process through which individuals decide whether to help a person in need. This model highlights several critical factors, such as noticing the event, interpreting it as an emergency, assuming responsibility, and knowing how to help, all of which influence whether or not someone will take action in a situation requiring assistance.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. The bystander intervention model was developed following the murder of Kitty Genovese in 1964, where numerous witnesses failed to intervene, highlighting the need for understanding bystander behavior.
  2. Research shows that the more people present during an emergency, the less likely any one individual is to offer help due to diffusion of responsibility.
  3. Individuals who recognize an emergency quickly are more likely to help than those who hesitate or doubt whether help is needed.
  4. Bystanders are more inclined to intervene if they feel a personal connection to the victim or if they perceive themselves as having the skills to assist.
  5. Training programs aimed at increasing awareness and response skills can effectively enhance bystander intervention rates in various contexts.

Review Questions

  • How do factors like diffusion of responsibility and pluralistic ignorance affect bystander intervention?
    • Diffusion of responsibility occurs when individuals feel less personal accountability to act because they assume others will intervene. This can lead to pluralistic ignorance, where bystanders wrongly think that their inaction reflects a consensus that the situation does not require intervention. Together, these factors create a barrier to helping behavior, as individuals may wait for someone else to take action instead of stepping forward themselves.
  • Discuss the significance of the steps outlined in the bystander intervention model and how they interact during an emergency situation.
    • The bystander intervention model outlines critical steps including noticing the event, interpreting it as an emergency, assuming responsibility, and knowing how to help. Each step interacts closely; for example, if a bystander does not notice an emergency or misinterprets it as non-critical, they will not progress to assuming responsibility. If they perceive the situation as urgent but lack knowledge on how to assist effectively, they may still refrain from intervening. Understanding these steps helps identify barriers that can prevent effective intervention.
  • Evaluate how enhancing empathy among individuals can influence their likelihood to intervene in emergencies based on the bystander intervention model.
    • Enhancing empathy can significantly boost an individual's likelihood of intervening during emergencies. When people can emotionally connect with a victim's plight, they are more likely to feel responsible for helping them. Empathy reduces the barriers created by diffusion of responsibility and pluralistic ignorance, as it motivates individuals to act based on their emotional response rather than rationalizing their inaction. Programs that foster empathy and highlight personal connections can increase intervention rates by promoting a sense of shared humanity and responsibility.