Last weekend, during a conversation about active bystandership, someone threw a single word back at me “Woke.” It wasn’t an invitation to debate. It wasn’t a question. It was a label. The conversation stopped almost as quickly as it had begun. I stopped the conversation because it was clear (1) they weren’t going to listen … Continue reading When “Woke” Becomes a Warning: How a Single Word Can Silence Active Bystanders
The Power of the Situation: What Married at First Sight, and Abu Ghraib Teach Us About Preventing Harm
That’s a big leap don’t you think? For me mainstream media continues to be full of stories which are connected. Far too often we simply look at what’s happened and move on. We may display anger or frustration however we rarely take a step back and ask what’s happening and why has this happened. When … Continue reading The Power of the Situation: What Married at First Sight, and Abu Ghraib Teach Us About Preventing Harm
Strategic Empathy and Active Bystandership: Turning Understanding into Action
Empathy is a trait that isn't innate. It's something we learn from our upbringing. For some high levels of empathy remain throughout our life. We purposely feel for another. We care. For others our empathy muscle might not be fully developed or the situation we find ourselves in might stifle our ability to show empathy. … Continue reading Strategic Empathy and Active Bystandership: Turning Understanding into Action
Every Contact Leaves A Trace – The Power of Care.
In policing, there is a well-known forensic principle: every contact leaves a trace. Locard’s Principle refers to the physical exchange that occurs when two surfaces meet, fibres, fingerprints, DNA. But beyond the science, there is a deeper truth that plays out in every interaction between human beings. Every conversation, every decision, every moment of connection … Continue reading Every Contact Leaves A Trace – The Power of Care.
Why the term “Upstander” Can get in the way of culture change.
Today is ‘National Bystander Day’. I learned this through a post by Nottinghamshire police who were discussing their ‘Upstander training’ for police officers. In the post they appeared to suggest that the bystander effect was the main reason people don’t speak up. Two things created some conflict with me and have led to me writing … Continue reading Why the term “Upstander” Can get in the way of culture change.
