The adverse effect of the crowd mentality, also known as the bystander effect, is a frequently discussed behavior in human society. The effect refers to the increased apathy to the suffering of another person when the act is being witnessed by several other observers. The reaction of a crowd is a primary factor, as it signals to an individual about the acceptable behavior in a particular situation (Sanderson, 2020). A person doesn’t need to be considered “bad” to ignore such an incident. People also tend to loosen their moral standards when they are in a group, which serves as further promotion of indifference (Sanderson, 2020). Lastly, cultural, racial, and social differences can affect the willingness of an observer to help a victim (Sanderson, 2020). The effect has a strong presence in modern society and requires additional research to synthesize the best approach in eliminating this phenomenon.
At a large scale, the task is straightforward: to prevent this type of behavior, people need to become more empathetic towards others. However, this notion needs to be delivered to each individual, who must then learn to act when it is required. By merely informing people about the existence of the bystander effect, communities can successfully decrease its occurrence (Sanderson, 2020). Moreover, a victim can avoid being ignored by the crowd by appealing to an individual directly, which increases the chances of help (Sanderson, 2020). Laws regarding the obligation to help can be used as a safety net within a community where the bystander effect is a widespread issue. In conclusion, the measures to negate the bystander effect require constant reminders for society regarding the harmful consequences of ignorance and inaction.
Reference
Sanderson, C. (2020). The bystander effect: The psychology of courage and inaction. HarperCollins UK.