TY - JOUR

T1 - On the Actual Risk of Bystander Intervention

T2 - A Statistical Study Based on Naturally Occurring Violent Emergencies

AU - Liebst, Lasse Suonperä

AU - Heinskou, Marie Bruvik

AU - Ejbye-Ernst, Peter

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - Objectives: Bystander studies have rarely considered the victimization risk associated with intervention into violent, dangerous emergencies. To address this gap, we aim to identify factors that influence bystanders’ risk of being physically victimized. Methods: We observed bystander behavior from video surveillance footage of naturally occurring violence in night-time economy settings, and data was analyzed with a logistic regression model. Results: Data shows that approximately one out of six interventions results in some type of victimization, typically with a relatively low degree of severity. The bystander’s social group membership, the setting of the emergency, and the bystander’s intervention type are estimated as risk factors for victimization. Conclusions: Previous research suggests that a bystander’s social group membership with victims promotes intervention behavior. Our results expand the role of social group membership as being a factor that also influences whether the intervening bystander is victimized.

AB - Objectives: Bystander studies have rarely considered the victimization risk associated with intervention into violent, dangerous emergencies. To address this gap, we aim to identify factors that influence bystanders’ risk of being physically victimized. Methods: We observed bystander behavior from video surveillance footage of naturally occurring violence in night-time economy settings, and data was analyzed with a logistic regression model. Results: Data shows that approximately one out of six interventions results in some type of victimization, typically with a relatively low degree of severity. The bystander’s social group membership, the setting of the emergency, and the bystander’s intervention type are estimated as risk factors for victimization. Conclusions: Previous research suggests that a bystander’s social group membership with victims promotes intervention behavior. Our results expand the role of social group membership as being a factor that also influences whether the intervening bystander is victimized.

U2 - 10.1177/0022427817710776

DO - 10.1177/0022427817710776

M3 - Journal article

VL - 55

SP - 27

EP - 50

JO - Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency

JF - Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency

SN - 0022-4278

IS - 1

ER -