This is encouraging. Bystanders will intervene to help victims of aggressive public disputes . Here's an excerpt summarizing the findings:
Bystanders will intervene in nine-out-of-ten public fights to help victims of aggression and violence say researchers, in the largest ever study of real-life conflicts captured by CCTV.
The findings overturn the impression of the "walk on by society" where victims are ignored by bystanders.
Instead, the international research team of social scientists found that at least one bystander -- but typically several -- did something to help. And with increasing numbers of bystanders there is a greater likelihood that at least someone will intervene to help.
A team of researchers from the University of Copenhagen, the Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement and Lancaster University examined unique video recordings of 219 arguments and assaults in inner cities of Amsterdam (Netherlands), Lancaster (UK) and Cape Town (South-Africa).
Encouraging, yes. But it is probably best not to count on it. Note the cities in which the studies were done: Amsterdam, Lancaster, and Cape Town. Could Americans in inner cities expect the same?
There are other factors at play in the recent incidents that have hit the news. When NYPD officers were doused with water the other day, the bystanders may have been filling their own buckets to pile on.
And when a dozen teens attack someone, it would take a brave individual to try to stop a mob.
So circumstances make a big difference. Be that as it may, the premise that a passerby is more likely than not to be a good Samaritan is so comforting that it's believable because we want to believe it.
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3:22 PM 7/26/2019
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