Are we born with the bystander effect? In a society that claims to value helping others, the bystander effect, a phenomenon where people fail to intervene when others are in need, stands in opposition to this ideal. News story after news story, society is exposed to cases like Kitty Genovese's murder, the Richmond High School gang rape, Khaseen Morris's stabbing, Ilan Halimi's kidnapping, and hundreds of other events that show the unnecessary horrors that could have been prevented. If, in just ten minutes, I could get the attention of a million people, I would discuss the bystander effect to inspire my audience to take action when faced with injustice.
Many people put on a mask, claiming they would step in, but the reality is that fear and the assumption that someone else will intervene hold them back. Overall, human beings often possess a diluted sense of self-worth and believe that a single person can not make a difference, which puts people into the mindset of “why should I try.” As society becomes increasingly individualistic, it becomes more challenging to persuade individuals to step up and do something. If everyone simply focuses on themselves and their own interests, we risk growing apart as a society.
Helping one another should be a fundamental instinct, not something that needs to be questioned. While 10 minutes may not change the deeply ingrained ideology of the bystander effect, it can encourage people to step up and make the world a better place.