Expert says 'bystander effect' often stops crowds from helping victims of violence.
An expert in social psychology says the reluctance of bystanders to step in and stop a brutal Northland beating is unsurprising.
The savage attack on a schoolgirl was captured on video and posted to Facebook. In the video, onlookers stand around - many laughing and cheering - for about a minute before a pair of adults cautiously intervene.
"Common sense would say the more people there the more likely someone would be to step in, but the research shows something like the opposite," said social psychologist David O'Hare of Otago University.
"People note other people's reactions and say 'nobody else is doing anything so why should I?'"
This is generally known as the 'bystander effect' and is well-documented in social psychology.
People in emergency-like situations asked themselves a series of questions about whether they should help, often deciding that someone "stronger or younger or fitter" should be the one to step in, O'Hare said.
"It's a process that kind of defaults towards inaction. It takes a concerted effort to break through it and say, 'yes, this is an emergency, this person needs help, and I should be the one to do it.'"
A single person stepping in caused something of a tipping point.
"Once one person does step in others tend to follow."
VIDEOS OF ASSAULT DAMAGING
Netsafe director Martin Cocker said videos of assaults had an ongoing effect on the victim.
People who filmed such events had to act responsibly, he said.
The video was posted to Facebook on Thursday night and is thought to have been filmed on Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon.
Cocker said his advice to people who had such videos was simple: "Don't upload them.
"You aren't making any positive contribution to society by doing."
Violent videos breached the terms and conditions of Facebook and most social networking sites, he said, and if people reported them they would be taken down.
The Harmful Digital Communications Bill will create a new offence of sending messages or posting material to cause harm, punishable by up to two years in jail or a $2000 fine.
NEED HELP? Visit http://www.beatbullying.org for online chats and access to resources and counsellors. Contact Youthline: phone 0800 37 66 33, email talk@youthline.co.nz, or free text 234. Or for kids aged 8-12 years phone the Child helpline on 0800 366 694 or email help@childhelpline.org.nz. Phone Lifeline Aotearoa on 0800 543 354 for 24-hour phone counselling.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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