Reasons for passivity, the roots of active bystandership, and trainings to develop it

In this article, I discuss the personal and professional experiences and influences that led me to the study of active bystandership. Research, my own and that of many others, has investigated the roots of active bystandership, why people intervene to prevent harm, and why they do not. Most importantly, we have demonstrated that active bystandership can be learned. When people receive training in the skills of active bystandership, they are more likely to overcome inhibitors and barriers to intervention. When organizations create and maintain a culture in which bystanders are valued and protected, the people who live and work there are more likely to intervene to prevent harm. In addition, a culture of active bystandership also enhances empathy. I have applied these lessons to real-world problems, from Rwanda to Amsterdam to Massachusetts, addressing harms as extreme as genocide. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).