Sometimes, people who witness bullying choose not to intervene. This can be bystander person who is for a number of reasons, including the fear of becoming the next target or not aware that a bullying situation wanting to make the situation worse. This person is called a passive bystander. is occurring but is not directly involved in it In situations where bullies face no opposition, they may interpret silence as encouragement to continue behaving badly. It is important for bystanders to judge how they can safely intervene to support a target. This is called being an active bystander, or an upstander. Bystanders can play an important role in influencing the outcome of a bullying situation. By deciding to step in and help someone, there is a greater chance the bullying will stop than if they were to do nothing. Not all bullying incidents are the same, and sometimes it can be difficult for bystanders to know how to intervene safely without making the situation worse for themselves and the target.
What can you do?
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If you know bullying is happening, you can take the following steps to make sure that you are being an active bystander/upstander. • Refuse to be a bystander. Don’t take part or join in, remove yourself from negative groups, situations or conversations. • Interrupt or distract the person doing the bullying behaviour. • Call the person out or tell the person to stop the bullying behaviour in a calm, confident manner (if you feel comfortable and safe). • Tell someone who can help or do something about the situation. • Be aware of bullying policies at your school. • Be an ally and support the person being bullied — let them know it is not okay and that you are there for them. Walk with them. Talk with them. Help them seek support.
1.4 ACTIVITIES
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1 Friendship strengths
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Remember, bystanders have an important role to play in situations of bullying. Their actions can help to stop the behaviour. If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem, so let’s end bullying.
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Choose one of your friendships. Use the following questions to describe this relationship and illustrate its unique nature. a. Identify what makes the relationship special. b. Describe the qualities or common interests that you and/or your friend have that make your friendship valuable. c. Explain what happens when an incident arises that challenges the friendship, such as accusations, jealousies, misinformation or gossip.
2 Group pressure Describe how you would feel and how you would act if your friends decided to: a. skip school for the day and meet at the local shopping centre b. boycott an exam that they think is unfair or unnecessary c. make up an alibi for a friend who has been accused of shoplifting d. graffiti a train carriage using spray cans e. apply some ‘pressure’ on a group member who refuses to hold similar views to the rest of the group f. wear swimming goggles to a party, just for fun g. start running every morning h. give the silent treatment to one of your group members.
TOPIC 1 Identity, changes and transitions
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