Bystander Apathy

Raymond Townsend

Bystander Apathy

I cannot seem to get away from this extremely upsetting reality termed bystander apathy. This is what psychology defines as a phenomenon in which someone is less likely to intervene in an emergency situation when other people are present and able to help than when he or she is alone. I chose to write my term paper on this phenomena because it is intriguing to me how few people are affected by this. Frederick Douglass: case in point; became fed up with what his eyes saw everyday with the injustice and inhumane culture of slavery. He refused with a rare perseverance to adhere to the slave masters of his day and fight for a cause that was worth his and the life of others. I believe that a select few possess this type of determination in the eyes of challenge and conquest. Is it innate? Is it taught or learned? Or maybe its just pure guts and intestinal fortitude that makes a difference and separation from the rest of the mainstream society. I am not sure and I think that this should be studied further. How much of a better society could we have if we were like Mr. Douglass in some corner of our lives? A much better one I might add. Crooked politicians, ceo’s, criminals, and the like would have a more difficult time contemplating their deviant and mischievous ways. The people would not stand for it and demand a change; i.e. protesting, voting, and boycotting. Until we realize the potential that we all have in some can make a difference in almost every aspect of life as we know it. Ironically, I recently had a chance to test myself with bystander apathy. I was spending time at home with my family when suddenly, we heard a loud crash followed by screams “My baby, my baby, oh my God, help!” In my house slippers in all I instinctively ran a half a block to the scene of a hit and run car accident. At the scene I first noticed a mother holding her little girl approximately age 7, bleeding and confused she tried her best to console the girl and scream for help at the same time. I kneeled on the ground and provided comfort for the child while asking if 911 was called. I observed at least twenty to twenty five people standing around the scene not really doing much at all. Three