{"id":12012,"date":"2019-12-04T11:50:55","date_gmt":"2019-12-04T18:50:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.petersons.com\/blog\/?p=12012"},"modified":"2020-02-27T11:02:36","modified_gmt":"2020-02-27T18:02:36","slug":"bystander-intervention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.petersons.com\/blog\/bystander-intervention\/","title":{"rendered":"Bystander Intervention | Learn to Recognize and React"},"content":{"rendered":"

For most, the thought of witnessing a threatening situation unfold is uncomfortable. It\u2019s easy to turn your head and look away, but what if you could help stop a problem from escalating? In some circumstances you can, through bystander intervention.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to <\/span>RAINN.org<\/span><\/a>, women ages 18-24 who are college students are three times more likely than women in general to experience sexual violence.<\/span><\/p>\n

So how can we change that statistic?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou can affect change in a multitude of ways,\u201d says Katie Abetya, Larimer County Director of Victim Advocacy and Outreach at the <\/span>Sexual Assault Victim Advocate (SAVA) Center<\/span><\/a>. One of those ways is through bystander intervention.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBystander intervention is the choice to interrupt problematic behavior to stop someone from experiencing harm,\u201d says Abetya. But how can you identify if a situation is potentially threatening?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

By trusting your gut.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have been socialized to not pry into each others\u2019 business. It\u2019s easy to think \u2018It’s none of my business, I should stay out of it.\u2019 People tend to doubt themselves and the situation. They don\u2019t want to be wrong, they don\u2019t want to cause a scene, and they\u2019re not really sure how to handle it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

But stepping in and interrupting a situation you\u2019re viewing as problematic could make a big difference. Just make sure your safety isn\u2019t compromised before intervening to help someone else. Abetya explained how there are both direct and indirect ways you can help in a situation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCausing a distraction is an effective tactic. You want to bring attention to the situation. If you\u2019re at a bar and you notice someone may be in trouble, just say \u2018Hey, can I chat with you for a second?\u2019 Pull them out of the situation. If you\u2019re not comfortable approaching someone directly, alert a bartender, bouncer, or staff member. Bringing attention can help de-escalate and evaporate a threatening situation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

And if you spot someone in immediate danger, call 911.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no harm done if you happen to be wrong about a situation, but the risk of harm is high if we notice something and don\u2019t say anything.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are 6 tips for bystander Intervention as recommended by the SAVA Center:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n