Getting Help in a Crowd

How to break group inhibitors during emergency situations. Written by a Gathering Currents intern, edited by Co-Executive Director Lilly Fellows.

Through TAB trainings, we know that people face many barriers to intervention when problems arise. We call these barriers the inhibitors. In this blog, we will focus on "Who Me?" Also known as the Bystander Effect. Research has found that we are less likely to provide or receive help in group settings. In other words, it seems that the age-old saying, "safety in numbers," is not always true. This is not exactly comforting, especially when we face an emergency around others and need help. The "Bystander Effect" can be a serious threat to safety. Fortunately, researchers who study this phenomenon have developed methods to overcome others' inhibitors. These practices are even used by emergency medical responders to turn entire groups into active bystanders.

If you find yourself in an emergency, counteract the confusion inhibitor by making it obvious that you need help. Eliminating ambiguity makes people more likely to be active bystanders. You can reduce the "who me?" inhibitor by singling out individuals for help. Use clothing colors to identify people when you don't know their names. Point, make eye contact, and give clear requests for what they should do.

These actions seem small, but they have big results! In one online study, it was found that naming someone in a chatroom ensured swift helping behavior when met with a request, even when the group was large. This is much better than simply asking for help and hoping someone will volunteer. Consistent with the bystander effect, these unnamed people offered less help as the group size increased.

Imagine from Markey, P. M. (2000). Bystander intervention in computer-mediated communication.

You may wonder why the bystander effect even exists. After all, shouldn't the presence of more people increase your chances of getting help? Social psychologists believe that a number of factors determine whether or not we will be active bystanders. For example, the "Masks" inhibitor is worsened when there are others around who are reacting passively to an emergency. Bystanders start to question whether intervention is needed at all. Additionally, the presence of others can make us feel that someone else is better suited to help. This can have dangerous consequences of reduced personal responsibility, low accountability, and less obligation to follow a moral code.

Unfortunately, not everyone has equal chances of getting help in a crowd. People are more likely to help others they perceive as physically attractive or charismatic. Victim blaming also plays a role in helping behavior. If someone seems responsible for their emergency, they are less likely to receive help. Overall, we are more likely to help people who are similar to us or whom we already know. This is called our in-group. Bias and prejudice can infiltrate our decisions, often unconsciously. Minority groups and people with historically marginalized identities are less likely to receive help.

Check out this video about the bystander effect: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSsPfbup0ac