We’ve all been there. You see that kid at your school getting picked on again by one, or a group of people; the kid is overpowered and can’t fight back. But guess what? Instead of intervening, you choose to look the other way. I don’t want to get involved or someone else will do it. Admit it to yourself, you, and everyone else out there has done this at least once in their lives; I am guilty of this to.
The bystander effect is becoming a major issue and people are not taking responsibility. Now, I am not saying to put yourself in the way of danger if someone is being mugged for example, but take the initiative to call the police or get some help. Do not just walk the other way and think to yourself: it’s not my problem, because that person may not get another chance at living their own life. Diffusion of responsibility is the term which defines a person who does not take action to stop an act that goes against moral standards.
One person in particular that never got her second chance at living her life due to the diffusion of responsibility, was Kitty Genovese. On March 16th, 1964, Kitty was attacked and stabbed twice before someone from a nearby apartment shouted at the attacker to leave her alone. The startled man left Kitty lying in the street, bleeding, but no one took action to call the police or to intervene. As Kitty slowly made her way up to her apartment, the attacker stabbed her again as she was crawling to find help, and he killed her; she never found help. Police discovered a total of 37 people who either heard Kitty's screams and/or witnessed the attack that night.
Why? Why didn’t anyone, not even one out of the 37 people call the police? The bystander effect cost Kitty Genovese her life, so next time you see that kid being bullied in the halls of your school, or whatever the case may be, think back to the effect it had on Kitty and make a change; I know I will. 
No comments:
Post a Comment