Bystander Intervention Resources
Background & General Information
Engaging Bystanders in Sexual Violence Prevention
Joan Tabachnick The National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 2009
This book presents a compelling orientation to the importance of engaging bystanders in sexual violence prevention. The narrative provides background on the development of an approach that empowers each of us to be involved in prevention. It discusses various reasons why individuals who witness a range of inappropriate behaviors may or may not take action, and presents ways to encourage and develop greater bystander involvement. Finally, this book serves as an excellent training resource; it provides activities and trainer instructions throughout that make it a useful educational guide on bystander engagement in sexual violence prevention. Also available in Spanish.
Katz discusses the importance of bystander intervention in a three-part series of reflections on the Penn State sexual abuse scandal and calls for action moving forward. He highlights the benefits of bystander intervention as a leadership development and sexual violence prevention strategy. Also see our response to Sandusky page.
This list highlights helpful resources that incorporate a bystander approach into sexual violence prevention efforts. Also available in Spanish.
Research evaluating the effectiveness of a bystander education program found that both men and women who participated showed positive changes in behaviors over time.
A newsletter entirely devoted to the bystander intervention approach to primary prevention. This publication explores the Red Flag Campaign, Relationship Roles in Ending Sexism and Male Dominance, and program highlights.
This UK report sets out 15 innovative case studies of 'promising' prevention programs including workshops with boys in schools, drama groups, enabling girls at risk of gang violence to access decision makers, and training ‘bystanders’ to intervene to challenge the attitudes of their peers. See the campaign: A Different World is Possible!
Through work with the Stand and Serve Initiative, these preventionists discuss making bystander intervention an action-oriented approach to prevention.
Online Learning Tools
It’s time …” scenarios, diagrams and discussion points
National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 2011
The following scenarios depict everyday interactions among people and offer discussion activities and possible responses about intervening.
It’s time ... to talk to your family
It’s time ... to discuss boundaries with your neighbors
It’s time ... to listen to your customers
It’s time ... to help your friends
It’s time ... to protect your students
It’s time ... to respect your coworkers
It’s time ... to speak up in your community
National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 2009
This PowerPoint workshop (with Facilitator's Guide), based on bystander intervention theory takes the audience through definitions of sexual violence, how bystanders can be engaged in sexual violence prevention, and includes a scenario for the audience to discuss and practice engaged bystander responses. This PowerPoint is geared towards a college campus audience.
Why and How We Teach/Faciliate Bystander Intervention
Madnus Sjogren and Klas Hyllander from Sweden’s Men for Gender Equity discuss their work with bystander intervention programs to prevent gender-based violence. This interview was conducted at the Mentors in Violence Prevention Bystander Intervention Conference in Boston, Mass., held on May 31 – June 1, 2012.
On this podcast, Karen Baker, the advocate consultant for the VAWnet Applied Research Paper titled Changing Perceptions of Sexual Violence Over Time, discusses her reflections on the content of the paper.
Interview with Joan Tabachnick on Engaging Bystanders in Sexual Violence Prevention
Prevent Connect, January 2010
(13 min) In this interview, Joan Tabachnick talks about Engaging Bystanders in Sexual Violence Prevention, a booklet she wrote for the National Sexual Violence Resource Center(NSVRC). She also talks about the practice of teaching bystanders to intervene, and about her new role as Editor of the NSVRC's new Bystander Intervention Blog.
PreventConnect Wiki on Bystander Intervention
A user generated web site with information about developing, implementing and evaluating bystander intervention efforts.
Step up! Train the Trainer Webinar: A Pro-social Behavior/Bystander Intervention Program for Student-Athletes
University of Arizona, C.A.T.S. Life Skills Program in partnership with NCAA
This one hour training familiarized users with the STEP UP! program and provides tips and instructions on facilitating the a STEP UP! training. Please refer to the Facilitator Guide for more information as well as step by step instructions. Also see the related blog: http://blog.stepupprogram.org/
Active Bystanders: Scenario Simulations
The College of William & Mary
Podcast: Preventing Sexual Aggression Among College Men
This 17 minute Prevent Connect podcast discusses the article, "Preventing Sexual Aggression among College Men: An Evaluation of a Social Norms and Bystander Intervention Program," which appears in the June 2011 edition of the journal, Violence Against Women.
This recorded session reviews the principles and process of beginning a violence prevention program on a college or university campus. It includes a presentation on efforts to build a prevention effort from the ground up on the campus of the University of Kentucky through the Green Dot Program.
In response to the 2011 campaign theme “It’s time…to get !nvolved,” programs and individuals submitted videos for the playlist. Many encourage taking action, getting involved, and engaging in prevention within their home communities.
xCHANGE Forum
The xCHANGE Forum is an opportunity for those working to end sexual violence to exchange information. This online forum brings together advocates, educators and researchers to share lessons learned that inform practice and research to create broader social change.
This xCHANGE was moderated by Dr. Victoria Banyard in April 2011. It included real-time and follow-up discussions on promising practices, new resources, and next steps for researchers and practitioners.
Letters to an Engaged Bystander Blog
Letters to an Engaged Bystander
Joan Tabachnick served as a guest blogger for the NSVRC after completing the publication Engaging Bystanders in Sexual Violence Prevention. She has been recognized as an expert through her publications in peer reviewed journals, award winning public service announcements and public information materials, invitations to participate on national expert panels and frequent requests for expert content advice with media outlets and film.
Campaigns & Programs
Know Your Power
Campaign: As a bystander you can make a difference. Everyone in the community has a role to play in ending relationship and sexual violence. The site includes a checklist for bystander action. PreventConnect also blogged about this campaign and related research.
"Green Dot" campaign
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