The notion that people turn into cowards when faced with danger is a farce. Recent events, including a high-speed train mass stabbing attack, have brought to light just how quickly ordinary individuals can spring into action when their lives are threatened.
Experts in the field of bystander intervention claim that heroism is not an exclusive trait of some, but rather an instinct shared by everyone. According to Prof Stephen Reicher, expert in group behaviour at the University of St Andrews, the idea that people panic and run for cover when faced with danger is a Hollywood myth. Instead, "Characteristically, people stay and help each other."
Reicher's research on several high-profile attacks, including the 7/7 underground bombings and the Leytonstone tube attack in 2015, has shown that bystanders often work together in emergency situations, using their unique skills to distract or confront attackers. This phenomenon is often referred to as "spontaneous coordination," where individuals act with altruism due to the presence of others around them.
Prof Clifford Stott, a specialist in the psychology of crowds and group identity at Keele University, agrees that bystander apathy is a myth. He claims that modern research has shown that strangers are actually highly effective in protecting themselves and each other during emergencies, often with remarkable unity.
The key to unlocking this collective potential lies not in encouraging heroism, but rather empowering individuals to take control during emergencies. Prof John Drury, a social psychologist specialising in collective behaviour at the University of Sussex, advocates for first responders using positive language that fosters a sense of connection and community. By focusing on "us" and "we," authorities can help mobilize bystanders' strong tendency to group together and help one another.
The growing trend of bystander intervention training in institutions such as schools, colleges, universities, policing, and the NHS is slowly but surely creating communities of active bystanders. Dr Gill Harrop, who leads the Bystander Intervention Programme at the University of Worcester, notes that this shift towards a culture of helpers will become increasingly important as society faces more climate-related mass emergencies.
As these experts emphasize, the natural human inclination to act with selflessness and compassion in moments of acute threat is not unique to some individuals. Rather, it's an instinct shared by all, waiting to be tapped into and nurtured.
Experts in the field of bystander intervention claim that heroism is not an exclusive trait of some, but rather an instinct shared by everyone. According to Prof Stephen Reicher, expert in group behaviour at the University of St Andrews, the idea that people panic and run for cover when faced with danger is a Hollywood myth. Instead, "Characteristically, people stay and help each other."
Reicher's research on several high-profile attacks, including the 7/7 underground bombings and the Leytonstone tube attack in 2015, has shown that bystanders often work together in emergency situations, using their unique skills to distract or confront attackers. This phenomenon is often referred to as "spontaneous coordination," where individuals act with altruism due to the presence of others around them.
Prof Clifford Stott, a specialist in the psychology of crowds and group identity at Keele University, agrees that bystander apathy is a myth. He claims that modern research has shown that strangers are actually highly effective in protecting themselves and each other during emergencies, often with remarkable unity.
The key to unlocking this collective potential lies not in encouraging heroism, but rather empowering individuals to take control during emergencies. Prof John Drury, a social psychologist specialising in collective behaviour at the University of Sussex, advocates for first responders using positive language that fosters a sense of connection and community. By focusing on "us" and "we," authorities can help mobilize bystanders' strong tendency to group together and help one another.
The growing trend of bystander intervention training in institutions such as schools, colleges, universities, policing, and the NHS is slowly but surely creating communities of active bystanders. Dr Gill Harrop, who leads the Bystander Intervention Programme at the University of Worcester, notes that this shift towards a culture of helpers will become increasingly important as society faces more climate-related mass emergencies.
As these experts emphasize, the natural human inclination to act with selflessness and compassion in moments of acute threat is not unique to some individuals. Rather, it's an instinct shared by all, waiting to be tapped into and nurtured.
I mean, think about it – most of us don't sit around twiddling our thumbs when we see someone in trouble. We freak out a little (rightly) and want to help, even if we've never done anything like that before. And that's actually kinda amazing.
. Train us all to be active bystanders, to use our unique skills to help each other out, and we'll be unstoppable 
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i mean, wot if nobody shows up? wot if the attacker's all alone? shouldn't we b prepared 2 look out 4 ourselves 1st? 
- I mean, think about it, we're always watching these action movies where people just magically appear out of nowhere to save the day... but in reality, most of us would probably freeze up 
. Yet, when it comes down to it, the majority of people will actually stick around and try to help 
. It's all about being in that moment and knowing you've got someone's back 
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. but this mass stabbing thing on that train? that was crazy! i mean, people are saying that we're all heroes when our lives are threatened, but it's not like you have a choice in the matter, right? 
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So like I was watching this video of a train attack and people just literally jumped on the attacker 
and stopped him... and it made me think about how we're always taught that everyone freaks out when they see something crazy happening but really it's just not true 
. There are so many examples where people are like "oh I'm gonna help" and they go full hero mode 
the other day about how groups work together in emergency situations and it's wild to see how everyone is working towards the same goal 
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Honestly, I think people have been conditioned to believe that we're all just gonna run away when things get hairy. But honestly, most of the time when someone sees something go down, they're more likely to freeze up than jump in 
. Like, how many times have you seen someone stand around taking a selfie while people are getting stabbed or attacked? 
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. If we empower bystanders with the right training and tools, I think we can create a wave of heroism that will change our communities forever 
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can u believe that ppl r actually capable of being heroic when they see som1 in danger lol like what even is this myth that people run away from stuff ?? 
but I just saw the article and I gotta say, I'm kinda surprised that more people don't do this stuff already? Like, when something crazy happens on the train or whatever, we all just freeze up for a sec... right? But then someone else jumps in and does something amazing! 
I mean, it's not like we're all just going to sit there and wait for someone else to save us. We've got this instinct to help out, we just need to tap into it 
. But then these random people step up and do something amazing! It's like our brains are wired to help others in a split sec, you know? I mean, have you ever seen a group of strangers come together to tackle an attacker? It's crazy powerful 
ppl's lives are on the line here, not some feel-good doco 
so yeah, its def not just some kinda Hollywood myth. its all about how ppl react in those split second situations & most of the time its not panic & runnin away, its more like stayin calm & workin w/ others 2 take action. its not even bout bein a hero or anythin, its just bein human & lookin out 4 one another 
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! I mean, we always think that when there's a mass attack or something, everyone just runs away 
. The idea of spontaneous coordination is wild - where individuals come together to help each other in emergency situations 
. Let's keep pushing for more bystander intervention programs and foster a community where everyone feels empowered to act with kindness and compassion 
!