Teaching empathy is not enough. We need to teach our kids to resist the Bystander Effect.
—
We humans tend to behave strangely when we are in large groups; the social pressure to act “normal” can be incapacitating.
We have all heard a story about somebody in need of assistance surrounded by a group of people who then fails to receive the help they need. This phenomenon is called The Bystander Effect, and it refers numerous studies that have concluded that the greater amount of people present, the less likely people are to help a person in distress.
Researchers explain this behavior as being a result of the Diffusion of Responsibility. Basically, the burden of responsibility to intervene is diminished because it is shared by all of the spectators.
Prezi created by Sabrina Etcheverry
Now mix in the social pressure that comes with being an adolescent, the lack of judgement thanks to an under-developed frontal lobe, and a constant stream of marketing messages that celebrate those close to power and exploit those furthest away from it, and it is clear why bullying is so pervasive in our schools.
That is why implementing an UPstander Intervention Training Program is crucial to creating a safe and inclusive learning environment.
Entire school communities must be properly trained in how to recognize, interrupt, and respond to social situations that threaten the collective brilliance of their community.
One of our highest points of leverage in our society is the ability to develop empathic concern in our young people.
Developing a culture that promotes empathic concern is a deliberate process. The social psychologist Daniel Batson explained empathic concern in his book, The Altruism Question, “as other-oriented emotions elicited by and congruent with the perceived welfare of someone in need.”
Basically, understanding how a person feels is not enough to influence a bystander to become an UPstander, they must also care about the person’s well-being to take action and offer assistance. Schools and organizations able to create an other-oriented climate lay the foundation for community members to move from survival mode to performance mode.
When this happens, it is easy to recognize because stake holders connect rather than communicate, educators teach students how to think rather than what to think, and individuals are celebrated rather than indoctrinated. The energy is palpable.
Closing the empathy gap is not only essential to building safer, more inclusive learning environments, but it is also a prerequisite for success within our global economy.
Leaders who possess a healthy balance of self-awareness, empathic concern, and systems awareness are designed and developed, not discovered. Moreover, these qualities are the conduit for innovation. Shaping curriculum and seizing opportunities to develop these executive functions in our young people builds healthy, socially-conscious communities that thrive.
Do not get stifled by the Diffusion of Responsibility phenomenon. Take some deliberate steps so that your school community can make some strides towards narrowing the empathy gap.
Here is a simple and quick assessment that measure a person’s empathic concern. Take a look at the questions and see what current tasks you may be able to integrate to foster other-oriented focus.
If your school community is hurting because of a bullying culture, it sounds as if there are students and families who could use your help. If you think that you lack the necessary skills to facilitate change, let me assure you that if you’ve read all the way through this article, you may not be an expert, but you are equipped with specific knowledge that can serve your community.
Energy flows where attention goes.
Now, here is a little inspiration for you:
Originally appeared a CivilSchools.com
CivilSchools is a comprehensive bullying prevention program for educational communities offering programming for students, parents, and educators. Learn more at www.CivilSchools.com.”
Download the free bullying survival toolkit: http://everydayfeminism.com/2013/12/being-an-upstander
—
What’s your take on what you just read? Comment below or write a response and submit to us your own point of view or reaction here at the red box, below, which links to our submissions portal.
◊♦◊
Sign up for our Writing Prompts email to receive writing inspiration in your inbox twice per week.
If you believe in the work we are doing here at The Good Men Project, please join us as a Premium Member, today.
All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS.
A $50 annual membership gives you an all-access pass. You can be a part of every call, group, class, and community.
A $25 annual membership gives you access to one class, one Social Interest group, and our online communities.
A $12 annual membership gives you access to our Friday calls with the publisher, our online community.
Register New Account
Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here.
Photo: Flickr/whatnot
There are a lot of different ways the “Golden Rule” can be interpreted sometimes, and it’s interesting to see who is sticks with and who uses it differently…Thoughts? http://www.latethakol.com/culture/the-golden-rule/