Lyan Hreiz - Hse4m Bystander Effect Case Studies

Bystander Effect Case Studies
Read the cases below and respond to the questions provided.
The Bystander effect was first popularized by the March 13, 1964,
case of Kitty Genovese. Genovese, returning home from work, was
stabbed by a man as she approached her apartment. After the first
stabbing, a neighbor yelled out a window to “leave that girl alone”
which caused the attacker to flee, but when no one came to her
assistance, he came back and stabbed her several more times. It was reported that thirty-eight people in the
apartment building heard the attack and Genovese's cries for help and did not respond immediately – no one
called the police or directly helped Genovese. It took about a half an hour before someone called the police, and
by the time they arrived, Genovese was dead.
In 1994, in the course of 100 days, the Hutu ethnic majority

government of Rwanda murdered approximately 800,000 minority
Tutsi and politically-moderate Hutu citizens. This incident has come to
be known as the Rwandan Genocide. The world's powers and
international community were alerted to the fact that these mass,
systematic killings were occurring in Rwanda, but little was done. This
lack of intervention was noted by Canadian General Roméo Dallaire, who
witnessed the devastation first hand and posed the question: “Are all humans human? Or are some more human
than others?” The world remains responsible for permitting the genocide to occur, and this incident is known as
one of the biggest crimes against humanity and one of the greatest slaughters of human beings since the
Holocaust.
In June 22, 2007, as LaShanda Calloway lay dying from stab wounds on the floor of a Kansas convenience
store, five shoppers, including one who took a photo with a cell phone, stepped over her. Not one of them made
a move to help her, even as she was struggling to get up. She later died on her way to the hospital.
On October 11, 2011, two-year-old Wang Yue was hit by a van, and when she was not moved by bystanders, she
was then run over by a larger truck in the city streets of Foshan, China. A total of 18 people ignored her lying on
the ground - some people even walked around the blood pooling around her. Wang Yue was left for seven
minutes before someone picked her up and called for help. She died from her injuries.
1. What do you think is the issue that connects these cases? (2)
I believe the issue that connects these cases is how these bystanders contributed to the deaths of these
innocent people because they did nothing or were simply too late. The problem is that they had the
opportunity to do something, but they didn't, and their injuries prevented others from calling the
police.
2. Do you think you would respond in any of these situations? Why or why not? (2)
I believe I would respond in any of these situations because I would be discontent with myself if I saw
someone injured and did nothing about it, especially if I could see what was happening. Obviously, if I
see something wrong, I would try to assist, whether by calling the police or at the very least by trying
to assist the person in getting up.
3. How do you feel about the lack of action of people who are affected by the bystander effect?(2)
I'm sickened by people who are affected by the bystander effect's lack of action because I don't
understand how they can see someone bleed out their body and instead of helping, simply walk over
or around the victim. I'm uncomfortable hearing about these cases because they're so inhumane and
disgusting.
4. Do you think there is a way to engage people to respond to situations such as these? (2)
I believe there is a way to engage people in responding to situations like these by making them aware
of the bystander effect. Although someone may believe that they are of no help in the situation, doing
something and assisting the person yelling "help" may be more than enough, especially since it is a
very sudden situation.
5. In this technological age, many people have cell phones that can be used to make a quick 911 call. Why
do you think people are hesitant to do so? (2)
People, I believe, would be hesitant to call the police because they don't want to be associated with a
heinous crime, especially if they suspect they are a part of it.
6. Why does the issue of the bystander effect matter? (2)

The bystander effect is important because cases like these make you wonder why people would leave
injured people who are visibly hurt alone. It's the idea of knowing you could actually do something
about the situation rather than simply not helping.
7. How have you been affected by the bystander effect? (2)

I've been affected by the bystander effect because I've witnessed fights at school or in public and
haven't intervened because I didn't want to be a part of the situation. Furthermore, there have been
times when I've been in a situation with someone and no one has done anything to support me, instead
just standing there and watching the situation escalate into something bigger than it was.
8. How do you think it affects the victims? (2)

I believe it affects the victims because when they are injured, they are obviously unable to help
themselves, which is why bystanders should assist. In these cases, they all end with the unfortunate
deaths of the victims.
9. What factors do you think must be present to go from being a bystander to an activist? (2)
As previously stated, one factor that I believe must be present in order to transition from being a
bystander to an activist is to raise awareness of the situation. If more people were aware of cases or
situations like the ones we learned about, more people would consider the assistance they can provide
when they see fights. To be an activist, you must be a leader, and in these situations, you can reach out
for assistance or call the police, and when you do so, it influences others, such as those around you, to
assist you or do whatever it takes to aid the victim in that situation.

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Bystander Effect Case Studies

Read the cases below and respond to the questions provided.

In 1994, in the course of 100 days, the Hutu ethnic majority

6. Why does the issue of the bystander effect matter? (2)

7. How have you been affected by the bystander effect? (2)

8. How do you think it affects the victims? (2)

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