On the Actual Risk of Bystander Intervention: A Statistical Study Based on Naturally Occurring Violent Emergencies

TY - JOUR

T1 - On the Actual Risk of Bystander Intervention

T2 - A Statistical Study Based on Naturally Occurring Violent Emergencies

AU - Liebst, Lasse Suonperä

AU - Heinskou, Marie Bruvik

AU - Ejbye-Ernst, Peter

PY - 2018/2/1

Y1 - 2018/2/1

N2 - Objectives: Bystander studies have rarely considered the victimization risk associated with intervention into violent, dangerous emergencies. To address this gap, we aim to identify factors that influence bystanders’ risk of being physically victimized. Method: We observed bystander behavior from video surveillance footage of naturally occurring violence in nighttime economy settings, and data were analyzed with a logistic regression model. Results: Data show that approximately one of the six interventions results in some type of victimization, typically with a relatively low degree of severity. The bystander’s social group membership, the setting of the emergency, and the bystander’s intervention type are estimated as risk factors for victimization. Conclusions: Previous research suggests that a bystander’s social group membership with victims promotes intervention behavior. Our results expand the role of social group membership as being a factor that also influences whether the intervening bystander is victimized.

AB - Objectives: Bystander studies have rarely considered the victimization risk associated with intervention into violent, dangerous emergencies. To address this gap, we aim to identify factors that influence bystanders’ risk of being physically victimized. Method: We observed bystander behavior from video surveillance footage of naturally occurring violence in nighttime economy settings, and data were analyzed with a logistic regression model. Results: Data show that approximately one of the six interventions results in some type of victimization, typically with a relatively low degree of severity. The bystander’s social group membership, the setting of the emergency, and the bystander’s intervention type are estimated as risk factors for victimization. Conclusions: Previous research suggests that a bystander’s social group membership with victims promotes intervention behavior. Our results expand the role of social group membership as being a factor that also influences whether the intervening bystander is victimized.

U2 - 10.1177/0022427817710776

DO - 10.1177/0022427817710776

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0022-4278

VL - 55

SP - 27

EP - 50

JO - Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency

JF - Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency

IS - 1

ER -