Courageous Bystander: A Brief Overview
This information is merely an overview of a few basic concepts and definitions, for more comprehensive information or presentations in San Luis Obispo County, please contact the Prevention Coordinator at (805)-781-6401 x225.
· What is a bystander?
A person who observes a conflict or unacceptable behavior. (Please note: unacceptable behavior could range from a tasteless joke which perpetuates sexism, to an incident of violence witnessed.)
· What is an active bystander?
A person who assesses a situation to determine what kind of help, if any, might be appropriate and evaluates options and chooses a strategy for responding.
· Why intervene
o It matters to the person who is/may be harmed in the situation.
o It indicates to both the offender and the potentially offended where the larger community stands. “If a norm is deeply held, its violation should provoke reactions. What sense can we make, then, of the silence of bystanders?”
There are many ways to intervene with varying levels of risk. Please remember your safety always comes first!
Please fill out this form to receive more information about this topic
Powered by Fast Secure Contact Form
