We, the People!
By : Vikram Sharma
Update: 2024-06-19 18:40 GMT
Wait and watch till the end. That’s exactly what people did when a jilted lover struck 18 blows on the head of a young woman with a spanner in Vasai, Maharashtra, early Tuesday morning. The crime sent shock-waves across the country. While this is not the first-of-its-kind incident, the list of people getting killed in public view in India is sadly long. The role of people or bystanders who witness the gory violence unfold before their eyes—some even shooting them on their mobile phones—often comes under scrutiny. Why didn’t they act, which could have saved a precious life? While one may view such an event as black and white, in reality, there are a lot of grey areas and psychological factors that contribute to their decision-making.
The Bystander Effect
A major reason people behave the way they do in such situations is the bystander effect, which occurs because people tend to conform to the behaviour of those around them. “Often, in a crowd around the crime, people assume someone else will intervene. This diffusion of responsibility decreases the likelihood of any one person stepping forward to help,” says Dr Anjali Chabbria, a leading psychiatrist and psychotherapist. The greater the number of bystanders, the less likely it is for any of them to provide help to those in distress.
Fear Factor
A lot goes on in a person’s mind while viewing crime. At the top, says Dr Anjali, is the need for self-preservation and the fear of one’s own life. “One may be paralysed by shock, activating their body’s fight or flight system. This may cause them to flee the scene or want to step in and ‘fight’ but not be able to because of fear of their own safety kicking in.” However, this depends on the severity of the crime. “In crimes like stealing, more people are willing to help because there is usually no threat to their life. But in stabbing or gun violence, a witness may feel hesitant to step in because their life would be at stake,” she elaborates.
Legal Tangle
Another major factor is the fear of legality and harassment. Many witnesses believe that they will be unnecessarily pulled into the case with police proceedings and court cases. “In 2016, the Supreme Court brought out rules to protect the witnesses and bystanders who would give out the relevant information to help the case, with protection from harassment. There is still a gap between the commencement of these rules and their awareness among the common people,” informs Dr Anjali.
The answer lies in spreading enough awareness about this matter and assuring people that by helping out in a crime, they will not suffer any repercussions.
Shooting Videos
Often, says Dr Anjali, when bystanders wish to help during a crime but are too scared to actually do so, they may resort to clicking pictures and videos of it to share with friends and family or upload on social media sites to help them feel like they are contributing in some way. “However, this could be a defence mechanism to help them detach themselves from the severity and shock of what they have just witnessed,” she says. This is usual human behaviour because these psychological factors have been coming into play for decades.
Serious Concern
Senior IPS officer Abhilasha Bisht feels the apathy of bystanders in situations such as accidents, attacks, or other forms of violence in public spaces is deeply concerning. “It is a reflection of apathy, aversions, and fear of repercussions. The “Bystander Effect” is recognised in psychology. It is not only an occurrence in one country but has prevalence across the world. This incident is a heartbreakingly tragic example of how apathy and fear can contribute to a failure to react to violence,” she says. Abhilasha says society needs more heroes who are not afraid to stick their necks out. “But this is also a magnification of the simpler issue. It’s like, if a tree has fallen or garbage is strewn, people always wait for the ‘authorities’ to step in,” points out Abhilasha, who is presently serving as Director, RBVRR Telangana State Police Academy. She opines that people are often afraid of becoming targets themselves or facing legal and social repercussions. “Fear leads to paralysis, and helplessness compounds it, resulting in a sense of apathy and inertia among potential helpers,” she explains.
Legal View
Legally speaking, can any action be initiated against the mute spectators? The IPS officer says legally, the situation is complex. “In India, there is no statutory obligation for bystanders to intervene. However, in some cases, if it can be proven that inaction directly resulted in the crime or hindered assistance, there may be grounds for legal action. However, such cases are rare and difficult to prove due to the challenges of proving intent and cause,” she explains. However, there is a perception that people are becoming more desensitised to violence, possibly due to their frequent exposure to violent content in media and online platforms. “It is essential to recognise that fear, rather than insensitivity, often drives the lack of intervention. People may worry about their safety or potential legal consequences, which can deter them from acting,” she says.
A major reason people behave the way they do in such situations is the bystander effect, which occurs because people tend to conform to the behaviour of those around them. “Often, in a crowd around the crime, people assume someone else will intervene. This diffusion of responsibility decreases the likelihood of any one person stepping forward to help,” says Dr Anjali Chabbria, a leading psychiatrist and psychotherapist. The greater the number of bystanders, the less likely it is for any of them to provide help to those in distress.
Fear Factor
A lot goes on in a person’s mind while viewing crime. At the top, says Dr Anjali, is the need for self-preservation and the fear of one’s own life. “One may be paralysed by shock, activating their body’s fight or flight system. This may cause them to flee the scene or want to step in and ‘fight’ but not be able to because of fear of their own safety kicking in.” However, this depends on the severity of the crime. “In crimes like stealing, more people are willing to help because there is usually no threat to their life. But in stabbing or gun violence, a witness may feel hesitant to step in because their life would be at stake,” she elaborates.
Legal Tangle
Another major factor is the fear of legality and harassment. Many witnesses believe that they will be unnecessarily pulled into the case with police proceedings and court cases. “In 2016, the Supreme Court brought out rules to protect the witnesses and bystanders who would give out the relevant information to help the case, with protection from harassment. There is still a gap between the commencement of these rules and their awareness among the common people,” informs Dr Anjali.
The answer lies in spreading enough awareness about this matter and assuring people that by helping out in a crime, they will not suffer any repercussions.
Shooting Videos
Often, says Dr Anjali, when bystanders wish to help during a crime but are too scared to actually do so, they may resort to clicking pictures and videos of it to share with friends and family or upload on social media sites to help them feel like they are contributing in some way. “However, this could be a defence mechanism to help them detach themselves from the severity and shock of what they have just witnessed,” she says. This is usual human behaviour because these psychological factors have been coming into play for decades.
Serious Concern
Senior IPS officer Abhilasha Bisht feels the apathy of bystanders in situations such as accidents, attacks, or other forms of violence in public spaces is deeply concerning. “It is a reflection of apathy, aversions, and fear of repercussions. The “Bystander Effect” is recognised in psychology. It is not only an occurrence in one country but has prevalence across the world. This incident is a heartbreakingly tragic example of how apathy and fear can contribute to a failure to react to violence,” she says. Abhilasha says society needs more heroes who are not afraid to stick their necks out. “But this is also a magnification of the simpler issue. It’s like, if a tree has fallen or garbage is strewn, people always wait for the ‘authorities’ to step in,” points out Abhilasha, who is presently serving as Director, RBVRR Telangana State Police Academy. She opines that people are often afraid of becoming targets themselves or facing legal and social repercussions. “Fear leads to paralysis, and helplessness compounds it, resulting in a sense of apathy and inertia among potential helpers,” she explains.
Legal View
Legally speaking, can any action be initiated against the mute spectators? The IPS officer says legally, the situation is complex. “In India, there is no statutory obligation for bystanders to intervene. However, in some cases, if it can be proven that inaction directly resulted in the crime or hindered assistance, there may be grounds for legal action. However, such cases are rare and difficult to prove due to the challenges of proving intent and cause,” she explains. However, there is a perception that people are becoming more desensitised to violence, possibly due to their frequent exposure to violent content in media and online platforms. “It is essential to recognise that fear, rather than insensitivity, often drives the lack of intervention. People may worry about their safety or potential legal consequences, which can deter them from acting,” she says.
As a police officer, Abhilasha’s appeal to the public is to remember their own power and the fact that one action can result in breaking the stasis among others and leading to collective action. “As humans, our actions are our power and our tools, and while personal safety is paramount, there are often safe ways to intervene, such as calling the police immediately, shouting to attract attention, or forming a group to safely approach the situation,” she says. Being a responsible citizen is important, but does not mean just avoiding harm but actively working to prevent it when possible.