Bystander Intervention Training
An innovative program that sets the standard for bystander intervention training. This research-informed program incorporates a community of responsibility model rather than narrowly focusing on victims and perpetrators; all community members have a role as active bystanders in ending incivility, harassment, including sexual violence, and discrimination. Participants develop and practice bystander intervention prevention skills, learning prosocial (positive, appropriate, and safe) ways to effectively intervene.
The "3Ds" - 3 Ways of Intervening and Preventing Sexual Violence.
Delegate – If you’re too nervous, fearful or embarrassed to stop someone’s behavior or to step into a situation, find someone you can assign to do the task for you. Find a friend, adult, bartender or police officer who feels comfortable stepping in and breaking up a situation where sexual misconduct, harassment or other violence might ensue.
Direct – Maybe you feel confident and able to step in, safely, and dilute a difficult situation. For this intervention, you would approach the male or female who is making someone else uncomfortable. You would directly tell them that what they’re doing is wrong, unsafe or disrespectful.
Distract – For a passive, yet effective, approach, you try to find a diversion and distraction from the situation. You might “accidentally” spill your drink, cause a scene, or otherwise find your way, safely, into the situation in order to break up a couple where one person is at risk of being sexually violated.
What’s the Difference Between a Bystander and an Active Bystander?
Bystanders – Individuals who notice a behavior or situation that could lead to something bad, and are faced with the choice to help, do nothing, or contribute to the negative behavior.
Active bystanders – Individuals who DO SOMETHING to decrease the likelihood that something bad will occur or get worse.
Check out this video for a great look at the difference between being a bystander and being an active bystander!
Here at SNC, we encourage our students to intervene in situations that could lead to a sexual assault or sexual misconduct. Students are reminded only to intervene when it is safe to do so and after assuring that their involvement won’t make the situation worse. As a student at St. Norbert College, it is part of your responsibility on campus and your commitment to those around you, to engage in active bystander interventions. By doing this, you can stop unsafe situations from happening. And you can serve as a role model to your peers, so they feel confident to do the same.
What Makes Intervening Difficult?
Diffusion of responsibility: With more people present, the notion of “somebody else will do something” comes into effect. One person might assume they don’t need to act because somebody else will!
Group think: Action (or failure to act) that allows events/situations/conversations to take place within a group, when someone would never allow these to happen if they were alone.
Conformity: Matching attitudes, decisions and beliefs to those of the larger group. Conformity is affected by social norms, peer pressure, group size, relationship to group members and personality – just to name a few.
Contact Us
Bystander intervention workshops, programs and presentations are available from trained team members. Contact the Director of Health & Wellness Programs at health@snc.edu or 920-403-3259 to request a program. All presentations are flexible to meet your needs.
