&INTERVENTION SKILLS

Adapted from: The Certified Peer Health Educator Training Program owned by The BACCHUS Network and Step-Up! A Prosocial Behavior/Bystander Intervention program created by Becky Bell, University of Arizona.

Bystander Training

Help!

• Help you recognize reasons why people may not intervene when another is in trouble.

• Prepare you to be ready to intervene

• Help you find ways to take action

Our Goals

The Need for Intervention

• Correcting misinformation

• Stopping dangerous behavior

• Not being a passive bystander

• Motivating others to less harmful behaviors

“Should I say something?”

3 Things You Should Know About Bystander

Definition is a person who observes a conflict or

unacceptable behavior.

ConceptAn individual who observes a situation or

potential situation in which an individual may experience harmful or hurtful acts.

EffectAn individual who is less likely to offer help or

intervene in a situation where others are present because they assume someone else will do it.

Prompt Exercise

Think about a time when you witnessed a situation in which you felt like someone or

you should have intervened but no one was either willing or capable to do so.

*Do this activity individually

Reflection ExerciseList two reasons in your worksheet under “List the factors influencing the bystander behavior” why you think no one intervened the situation you just described in your 3X5 card.

Share your two reasons within your table.

Select one person to be the speaker for the group.

Factors Influencing Bystander Behavior

• Previous negative experience

• Support

• Time

• Physical Condition of the victim

• Risk to you

• Gender roles

• Cultural roles

• Social roles

• Emotional state

• Fear

• Peer pressure

• Self-confidence

• Skill level

If we are not sure what is happening we may look to others behaviors and reactions to define whether the situations

needs intervention.

If people are around, we may worry that others will judge us negatively if we act.

If other people are round when a situation occurs, we may take the assumption that someone else will respond.

The belief that nothing is wrong because no one else looks concerned.

Social Influence

Evaluation Apprehension

Diffusion of Responsibility

Pluralistic Ignorance

So Why Doesn’t Everybody Intervene…

WHY…WHY…WHY…WHY…WHY…Why does it matter?

You are all part of the Peer Health University Network

Greater level of responsibility

Cause positive behavior change

Intervene to prevent risky behaviors

We challenge YOU to be an Upstander!

An individual who intervenes and helps others, not assuming that someone else will.

“How can I help you?” Help?

Six Steps to Intervene

Be Ready

Identify the Behavior

Appeal to Principles

Set Limits

Find Allies

Be Persistent

Be Ready

• Prepare yourself for the time when you will observe harmful, unhealthy, or unsafe behaviors.

• Think of yourself as the one who will take action or speak up.

“I am an Upstander”

Identify the Behavior• Point out the behavior to help someone hear what they

are really saying or recognize what they are really doing.

Example:

• Describe the behavior; avoid labeling the person or calling them a name.

Example:

You say that “Texting is not a distraction for you when you drive.”

“I think that texting while driving is reckless” instead of “you’re dumb if you really think that is not a distraction.”

Appeal to their Principles• If you have a relationship to the person, call on their

higher principles.

• Appel to the person better instincts.

“You seem to be a healthy person; help me understand your choice to drink alcohol so much.”

“I know you would never intentionally say something to hurt someone.”

Set LimitsDecide where you draw the line and express it.

“I do not want to listen to sexist jokes; I will leave if you continue.”

“If you continue missing our meetings, I will report you.”

Find Allies

• Seek others who agree with you and ask for their support.

• Become an ally to others who are taking action.

• Recognize when a situation is too big to handle.

Remember you should not put yourself in physical danger. If you sense that the situation is beyond your

control or abilities, call 911, contact campus security, or any individual you feel could help.

Be Persistent• Do not give up; change takes time.

• Continue to speak up and take action; if you ignore a situation, you are silently condoning itit.

How to Intervene using the 3 D’s

DirectDirectly intervening, in the moment, to prevent a problem situation from happening.

Distract

Delegate

Interrupting the situation without directly confronting the offender. You divert attention away from the situation.

Seeking help from another individual such as a friend, supervisor, colleagues, police officer or any individual you feel can help.

Scenario 1You are walking in the Student Union and you notice two individuals

arguing. You hear the argument escalating and you know it will lead to a fight.

How would you intervene the situation?

Direct Distract Delegate

GROUP ACTIVITY

Scenario 2

You are at the HEP room with other peers. Conversation is going well with people moving in and out of several topics and sometimes the whole group is talking and other times separated conversations are

happening. At one point you overhear one person say “Jake is so hot too bad his gay, why are all the cute guys gay.” You look across the

table and notice that Mike looks uncomfortable with the comment made.

How would you approach this situation?

Direct Distract Delegate

Scenario 3

You are at the PHUN HUT and notice a friend and his partner in the corner. You see him grab his partner’s arm, shake her and get in her face. He’s talking quietly but very forcefully.

You can’t hear what is said and can’t see her reaction except her physical efforts to pull away from him.

How would you approach this situation?

Direct Distract Delegate

Scenario 4

You are giving a presentation to a class regarding the services offered by the Student Health and Counseling Center. You begin the presentation but when you start talking about the Counseling Services a student says “That’s for crazy people.” Some peers

find it funny and laugh.

How would you handle the situation?

Direct Distract Delegate

Scenario 5

You go to a party with your friends. You noticed that one of your friends starts drinking beer after beer. Your friend is on his or

her 4th beer; you're concern about your friend because the behavior is unusual.

What do you do?

Direct Distract Delegate

Dealing with Resistance

• Resistance is a normal reaction

• Respond with nonresistance:

Reflective responses

Reframe resistance

Emphasize the right to disagree

Emphasize personal choice and control

Reflective Responses

• Acknowledge the resistance, but don’t fight it.

• Reflect back what you hear the person saying.

“It’s not easy to hear what I have to say…”

Reframe Resistance

• Acknowledge their concerns

• Reframe what you hear

“You are right, a lot of people do make jokes about women, and I need your help to get others

to realize how it hurts women.”

Emphasize the Right to Disagree

• Acknowledge that not everyone will agree

• Ask the person to consider another view

“It is your right not to agree with me; I am just asking that you consider this before you make a

decision.”

Emphasize Personal Choice and Control

• Recognize the right to choose

• Stress personal freedom and control

“I am simply offering information. You have the right to decide what to do.”

Intervening with a Friend

May be harder to intervene with a close friend• Fear of closing the friendship

Use “I statements”• Help with opening a conversation

“I was scared…”

“I was annoyed …”

We have reached the end

Test Questions Recap:

Which of the following statements is an example of the Identify the Behavior guideline to intervening?

A. I promise I will take action.

B. I do not want to listen to racist jokes, so I will leave if you continue.

C. Your statement implies that all athletes are dumb.

D. Does anyone else agree with me?

Answer: C

We have reached the endTest Questions Recap:

When you intervene in a situation and encounter resistance, which of the following is the best technique to respond with nonresistance?

A) Emphasize personal choice and control

B) Provide a judgmental response

C) Paraphrase the speaker's statement

D) Make eye contact

Answer: A