Active Bystander Interventions
We encourage bystanders to advocate for healthful behaviors and act to prevent potentially catastrophic behaviors. The bystander intervention approach asks individuals to take a stand, promotes responsible behaviors, changes individuals’ attitudes and perceptions, and helps to create a responsible, responsive community on campus. Research shows that the bystander intervention has positive effects on changing students’ attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors.
An active bystander is someone who:
- Notices a troubling event
- Considers whether the event calls for action
- Decides you have a responsibility to act (as long as it is safe for you)
- Chooses a form of strategy to act
- Understands how to effectively and safely to implement the strategy
For more information, go to "Step UP" at the University of Arizona for the best resources on active bystander interventions at stepupprogram.org.