While the bystander effect can have a negative impact on social behavior, altruism and heroism, researchers have identified a number of different factors that can help people overcome this tendency and increase the likelihood that they will engage in helping behaviors. Some of these include:

1. Witnessing Helping Behavior

Sometimes, just seeing other people doing something kind or helpful makes us more willing to help others. Researchers have found that when we observe other people engaging in prosocial behaviours, such as donating blood, we are more likely to do the same.

2. Being Observant

One of the key reasons people often fail to take action when help is needed is that they do not notice what is happening until it is too late. Ambiguous situations can also make it difficult to determine if help is truly needed. Since no one else was taking action, people assumed that there must not be an emergency. Rather than relying purely on the responses of those around you, staying alert and attuned to the situation can help you best decide how to react.

3. Being Skilled and Knowledgeable

When faced with an emergency situation, knowing what to do greatly increases the likelihood that a person will take action. How can you apply this to your own life? While you certainly cannot be prepared for every possible event that might transpire, taking first aid classes and receiving CPR training could help you feel more competent and prepared to deal with potential emergencies.

4. Guilt

Researchers have found that feelings of guilt can often spur on helping behaviours. So-called "survivor guilt" is just one example. Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, some people who had survived the event felt driven to help others in the aftermath.

5. Having a Personal Relationship

Researchers have long known that we are more likely to help people that we know personally. In an emergency situation, people in trouble can help cultivate a more personalized response even in strangers by taking a few important steps. Simple behaviours such as making direct eye-contact and engaging in small talk can increase the likelihood that a person will come to your aid. So if you are in trouble, you might be better off singling out an individual from the crowd, making eye contact, and directly asking for assistance than making a general plea to the group.

6. Seeing Others as Deserving of Help

People are also more likely to help others if they think that the person truly deserves it. This explains why some people are more willing to give money to the homeless while others are not. Those who believe that homeless people are in their situation due to laziness or unwillingness to work are less likely to give money while those who believe that these individuals are genuinely deserving of help are more likely to provide assistance.

7. Feeling Good

Researchers have also found that feeling good about ourselves can contribute to prosocial behaviours. People who feel happy or successful are more likely to lend assistance, and even relatively small events can trigger such feelings. This is often referred to as the "feel good, do good" effect.



List source: verywell.com