Don’t sit back and be a bystander of your own life.

Caprice Crane

The bystander effect and reactance are two logical fallacies that can cloud our judgment.

The bystander effect is a cognitive bias that describes how people are less likely to help someone in need if there are other people present. This is because people assume that someone else will help, or that they will not be needed.

Reactance is a psychological theory that states that people are motivated to do things that they are told not to do. This is because people do not like to feel controlled or restricted.

The bystander effect and reactance can have a significant impact on our behavior. They can affect our decisions about helping others, speaking out against injustice, and following the rules.

Here are some examples of how the bystander effect and reactance can play out in real life:

  • A person is having a heart attack on a busy street, but no one stops to help because they assume that someone else will.
  • A group of students are bullying another student, but no one intervenes because they are afraid of getting involved.
  • A government passes a law that restricts freedom of speech, and people start to protest the law because they do not like being told what they can and cannot say.
  • A parent tells their child not to eat a cookie, but the child eats the cookie anyway because they are curious or rebellious.

It is important to be aware of the bystander effect and reactance so that we can avoid being misled by them. When we see someone in need, we should try to help, even if others are present. We should also be critical of authority figures and not always follow the rules simply because we are told to.

Here are some tips for avoiding the bystander effect and reactance:

  • Be aware of your own biases. Once you are aware of your biases, you can start to take steps to avoid them.
  • Consider multiple perspectives. When making a decision, try to see things from different perspectives.
  • Be open to new information. Don’t let your existing biases prevent you from considering new information that may challenge your beliefs.
  • Be critical of authority figures. Don’t always follow the rules simply because you are told to.