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- Title
Effects of Group Status and Implicit Theories of Personality on Bystander Responses to Antigay Bullying.
- Authors
Katz, Jennifer; Klainberg, Sydney
- Abstract
Students perceived to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning or otherwise nonconforming (LGBTQ+) are at risk for bullying and other forms of victimization. Bystanders who witness bullying may respond as prosocial advocates, such as by confronting the perpetrator, which may promote both individual safety and a more inclusive campus climate. The present study assessed the effects of group status and bystander's beliefs about the human capacity for change on college students' responses to antigay bullying. Participants (N = 199) at a small Northeastern college in the United States were randomly assigned to react to an antigay bullying scenario in which they were either alone or with 3 friends after they were surveyed on their beliefs about human malleability. Results showed a significant Group Status x Beliefs interaction (p = .004, Cohen's d = 0.48). In the lone bystander condition, compared to those who reported the belief that humans are essentially unchangeable, those who reported greater belief in the human capacity for change reported significantly greater intent to confront (p = .004, Cohen's d = 0.61) and less intent to withdraw from the perpetrator (p = .04, Cohen's d = 0.33). In contrast, bystanders in groups reported similarly low intent to confront regardless of their reported beliefs about the human capacity for change. Bystander educational programs may explicitly address beliefs about human malleability as well as the classic bystander effect to promote more frequent intervention.
- Subjects
UNITED States; BYSTANDER effect (Psychology); PERSONALITY; BULLYING; STATE universities &; colleges; COLLEGE students; EDUCATIONAL programs
- Publication
Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research, 2019, Vol 24, p97
- ISSN
2164-8204
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.24839/2325-7342.JN24.2.97