Why someone did not stop them? Aversive racism and the responsibility of bystanders

Audrey J Murrell

doi:10.1108/edi-07-2020-0191

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine whether the impact of persistent racial bias, discrimination and racial violence is facilitated by otherwise well-intentioned individuals who fail to act or intercede. Utilizing the aversive racism framework, the need to move beyond awareness raising to facilitate behavioral changes is discussed. Examining the unique lens provided by the aversive racism framework and existing research, the bystander effect provides important insights on recent acts of racial violence such as the murder of Mr. George Floyd. Some promise is shown by the work on effective bystander behavior training and highlights the need for shared responsibility in preventing the outcomes of racial violence and discrimination to create meaningful and long-lasting social change.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses literature based on the aversive racism framework together with the literature on the bystander effect to understand the factors, conditions and consequences for lack of intervention when the victim is African American. This paper also provides evidence and theory-based recommendations for strategies to change passive bystanders into active allies.FindingsThe use of the aversive racism framework provides a powerful lens to help explain the inconsistencies in the bystander effect based on the race of the victim. The implications for intervention models point to the need for behavioral and competency-based approaches that have been shown to provide meaningful change.Practical implicationsSeveral different approaches to address incidents of racial aggression and violence have been developed in the past. However, given the principles of aversive racism, a unique approach that considers the inconsistencies between self-perceptions and actions is needed. This sets a new agenda for future research and meaningful behavioral intervention programs that seek to equip bystanders to intercede in the future.Social implicationsThe need to address and provide effective strategies to reduce the incidence of racial aggression and violence have wide-ranging benefits for individuals, communities and society.Originality/valueBy connecting the aversive racism framework to the bystander effect, the need for different models for developing responsive and active bystanders can be more effectively outlined.

Highlights

The 2020 murder of George Floyd, an unarmed African American man, was committed by a Minneapolis police officer who choked him to death by putting his knee on Mr Floyd’s throat for almost nine minutes
As several other officers watched and did nothing to prevent his death, this incident has provided a powerful catalyst to the persist calls to end racial violence and disparities for African Americans at the hands of police
In any critical situation of racial violence, aggression or discrimination, what factors determine or impact the likelihood that help will or will not be provided to a victim? How can we influence behavioral responses of bystanders and equip them to provide proactive intervention in situations of racial bias, discrimination and aggression to prevent dangerous escalation from taking place? While racism exists as a multidimensional and multilevel construct, the focus here is at the individual decision-making and interpersonal levels of analysis as we examine the bystander effect

Summary

Introduction

The 2020 murder of George Floyd, an unarmed African American man, was committed by a Minneapolis police officer who choked him to death by putting his knee on Mr Floyd’s throat for almost nine minutes. How can we influence behavioral responses of bystanders and equip them to provide proactive intervention in situations of racial bias, discrimination and aggression to prevent dangerous escalation from taking place? This paper uses the aversive racism framework to understand the perception, influencers and conditions under which bystanders fail to respond in situations of racial bias, discrimination and aggression.

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Conclusion