h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've seen this many times - as a first-aider, I'm trained to take control of a situation and make things happen, but I've often come on scene and found a crowd watching someone suffer and doing NOTHING!

it's also true that the best way to deal with is to start involving people, get bystanders to do something - give them a task.

I also recall a very worrying incident from a few years ago - a young (I presume 20s) girl was sexually assulted on a packed London Underground (tube) train, during the evening rush hour - and no-one did anything (not even pull the alarm handle which would at least have alerted staff).

Just pray that you never need the help of the public, and that you never fall victim to bystander syndrome.

Wow! I never thought about it before, isn't it sad that the more people watching such an apalling thing happening (sexual assualt, stabbing, etc), the less likely someone will come to their aid.

It goes directly against advice for sensible young women who are out by themselves to walk only in crowded areas or choose a populated train carriage!!! But then again, choosing sparsley-populated areas can also invite disaster.

So what's the solution?

The solution is in the guide entry...

Notice something is happening
Interpret the situation as an emergency
Assume personal responsibility
Choose a form of assistance
Implement assistance


The difficult thing is finding at least one person in the crowd to do pay attention and take that action. There must be maths available on the subject.

I've been groped on the tube - twice. The first time i said nothing and no one seemed to notice, the second time i said something like "stop it" to the groper, and in a loud "excuse me" to the packed carriage, got away from him. He left immediatley at the next stop, and was tutted.

purplejenny

Does anyone know if it's a universal effect or if it's specific to certain cultures/environments? I've always imagined the effect is strongest in Western, urban areas.

It's definitely there in the UK. I've fallen victim to it myself, I have to admit. Although I've not really seen many things where I _could_ render aid, so is general incapability of the audience an excuse?

Although in these days, it's hard to believe someone can watch stabbings or sexual assaults and not reach for their mobile to dial 999 or 112 or 911 or whatever the number happens to be.

It's the fear that what is happening to the victim might easily be turned on oneself that could be the reason most people don't like to get involved in violent assaults. Especially other women, I would imagine.

People that commit these types of assaults are probably very aware that onlookers will not want to come to the aid of the victim. So again, I ask is my Mummy's advice to go into a crowded train carriage late at night really that sound?

Not really - but going into a near-empty one is probably just as bad if not worse. Since you're not 100% safe anywhere, you have to work out which one is more dangerous. At least if there are witnesses they might be able to produce a reasonable description of the offender to the police - but then again, they might be 'too busy'.

twiddling their thumbs and trying not to get involved...

Unfortunatly the by-stander effect is all too true. It stems from lack of confidence rather than lack of bravery or concern. A person cannot usually convince themselves that they are the one, out of all these people, who is best able to handle the situation. This is why asking someone directly to do something can solve the problem. They now believe they can help because they have been told that they can.

Does anyone else think this kind of "fact" would be more useful to children than some of the things they currently learn in school?