Bystanders

Bystander
Bullying situations usually involve more than the bully and the victim. They also involve bystanders—those who watch bullying happen or hear about it.
An important new strategy forbullying prevention focuses on the powerful role of the bystander. Depending on how bystanders respond, they can either contribute to the problem or the solution. Bystanders rarely play a completelyneutral role, although they may think they do.
Hurtful Bystanders
Some bystanders . . . instigate the bullying by prodding the bully to begin.
Other bystanders . . . encouragethe bullying by laughing, cheering, or making comments that further stimulate the bully.
And other bystanders . . . join in the bullying once it has begun.
Most bystanders . . . passivelyaccept bullying by watching and doing nothing. Often without realizing it, these bystanders also contribute to the problem. Passive bystanders provide the audience a bully craves and the silent acceptancethat allows bullies to continue their hurtful behavior.
Helpful Bystanders

Bystanders also have the power to play a key role in preventing or stopping bullying.
Some bystanders . . .directly intervene, by discouraging the bully, defending the victim, or redirecting the situation away from bullying.
Other bystanders . . . get help, by rallying support from peers to stand up againstbullying or by reporting the bullying to adults.


Examining the Effects on the Bystander
Why don’t more bystanders intervene?
• They think, “It’s none of my business.”
• They fear gettinghurt or becoming another victim.
• They feel powerless to stop the bully.
• They don’t like the victim or believe the victim “deserves” it.
• They don’t want to draw attention to themselves.• They fear retribution.
• They think that telling adults won’t help or it may make things worse.
• They don’t know what to do.
Bystanders who don’t intervene or don’t report the bullying...