"Reflecting on and
interrupting our tendencies to be bystanders"
Led by Peter Taylor assisted
by Emmett Schaefer
Warm up: Supportive
listening
Introductions & interest
in topic of the session.
Bystander effect:
[passed around to be read aloud by the group]
"Inaction by a
bystander is often seen as unspoken acceptance of the situation."
"Passive bystanders
encourage aggressors, demoralize victims, and support situations where they can
become future victims."
Examples [contributed by
group]
PT’s Hypotheses:
I have seen colleagues be
bystanders to institutional injustices, but I decided that before I spend any
more emotional energy criticizing them I need to confront my own dispositions
to being a bystander. My hypothesis #1 is that a person is more likely to be a
bystander if hurt in the past by others not stepping in to curb an injustice to
that person or helping with healing afterwards. My hypothesis #2 is that we can
re-evaluate past hurts and diminish their power on us in our present actions.
Process:
Resources:
See
also Weissglass in Educational
Forum, 54: 351-370, 1990, describes "constructivist listening,"
which allows participants in pairs to delve deeper into emotions left from
hurtful experiences that interfere with clear thinking, making sense of
experience, and listening well to other participants. The basis for his work
lies in re-evaluation counseling (a.k.a.
co-counseling)..