Motivating Bystander Intervention to Reduce Bias in Faculty Interactions

Abstract

Bystander intervention training programs increasingly are used to motivate individuals to intervene in interpersonal situations that are causing harm to others or are violating social norms of fairness. Here, we describe the creation of and immediate response to a Bystander Leadership™ intervention training program to reduce gender and race bias among faculty members. The program addresses the gender, racial, and cultural intersectionality of both U.S. and international faculty and uses a behavioral change approach to influence both individual and peer culture. Participants indicated that the workshop provided them with knowledge and practice to enact the five steps of bystander intervention in observed situations of bias and exclusion: notice and interpret the experience of others as different from one’s own; lead by taking responsibility to intervene; decide what to do; and act to intervene. They reported being equipped with concrete tools and a sense of efficacy to intervene in future incidents.