NCJ Number
53296
Date Published
1978
Length
234 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY OF BYSTANDER BEHAVIOR CONCERNS THE BYSTANDER'S ATTITUDES AND ACTIONS IN RESPONSE TO THE PLIGHT OF A STRANGER IN DISTRESS. LEGAL AND ETHICAL RAMIFICATIONS ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
STUDIES OF BYSTANDER BEHAVIOR HAVE EVOLVED LOGICALLY AS AN OUTGROWTH OF VICTIMOLOGY. BYSTANDER SITUATIONS COVER A WIDE SPECTRUM OF POSSIBILITIES. THE TOTAL IMPACT OF BYSTANDER ACTIVITY TOUCHES ON THE VERY ESSENCE OF A SOCIETY, AND HELPS BOTH TO FORM AND REFLECT MUCH OF ITS TRUE NATURE AND THE QUALITY OF ITS LIFE. THE CRY FOR HELP POSES A DILEMMA NOT ONLY FOR THE PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL DIRECTLY INVOLVED, BUT FOR ALL OF SOCIETY. SEVERAL STUDIES ARE DISCUSSED, INCLUDING THE RESEARCH OF LATINE AND DARLEY. ALSO, THE LARGER SOCIETAL NORMS OF ALTRUISM ARE CONSIDERED. RECENT RESEARCH INTO EXTREME DISASTER SITUATIONS SUCH AS NAGASAKI AND THE TITANIC REVEAL THAT BONDS OF EMPATHY CREATE AN 'AMPLIFIED REBOUND' EFFECT FOR COPING AND GROWTH. STUDIES OF THE BYSTANDER AND CRIME ARE DISCUSSED WITH REFERENCE TO VARIOUS MEDIA CASES, THE RESPONSE OF POTENTIAL WITNESSES TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN CRIME PREVENTION BY COMMUNITY VIGILANTISM. THE EVOLUTION OF CRIMINAL LAW IS SKETCHED, INCLUDING THE EARLY FRANKPLEDGE SYSTEM IN FEUDAL ENGLAND, THE 'PAO-CHIA' SYSTEM IN CHINA, SIMILAR JAPANESE SYSTEMS, THE CONCEPT OF 'HUE AND CRY,' AND CITIZEN'S ARREST. KEY LEGAL ISSUES OF BYSTANDER INVOLVEMENT INCLUDE COMPENSATION FOR INJURY OR LOSS INCURRED AND IMMUNITY FROM CIVIL CLAIMS OR CRIMINAL SANCTIONS FOR INJURY OR DAMAGE INADVERTENTLY CAUSED. A REWARD SYSTEM FOR POSITIVE BYSTANDER ACTIVITY IS CONSIDERED, WITH ITS POSSIBLE IMPACT ON PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOR. THE BYSTANDER'S SELF-SERVING MOTIVATION VERSUS HIS ATTRUISTIC REACTIONS IS DEBATED. THE FORMULATION OF LAWS, DEVELOPMENTAL LEARNING AS DEMONSTRATED BY PIAGET AND KOHLBERG, AND THE PRESENTATION OF BEHAVIOR MODELS THROUGH THE MEDIA ARE EXAMINED. WITH IMPROVED COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORTATION IN THE MODERN WORLD, THE ARENA FOR ALTRUISTIC BYSTANDER RESPONSE HAS BECOME BROADER IN SCOPE. IN THIS LARGER CONTEXT, THE HOLOCAUST IS CONSIDERED WITH ITS DIVERGENT REACTIONS OF APATHY AND DEEP CONCERN. LIKEWISE, THE COMPLEXITY OF THE KITTY GENOVESE CASE IS DISCUSSED. IT IS OBSERVED THAT EVERYONE INEVITABLY ASSUMES THE ROLE OF EITHER BYSTANDER OR VICTIM. EACH CHAPTER IS AMPLY ANNOTATED AND INDEXES OF CASES, AUTHORS, AND SUBJECTS ARE PROVIDED. (FCW)