When you see someone experiencing harassment, it can be difficult to decide what to do. Perhaps you doubt you can help without putting yourself at risk. Fortunately, the method of bystander intervention offers several options, including Distract. This is a powerful way to intervene and make the situation safer for the person experiencing the harassment.
What is Distract?
Distract means diverting attention from the situation. Instead of addressing the person harassing someone else directly, you turn your focus elsewhere. This can be subtle, such as asking a question or pretending to know someone. The aim is to give the person being harassed a chance to get away or to interrupt the behaviour without escalating the situation.
Why is Distract effective?
Distraction is an accessible intervention method because it does not require direct confrontation. It is safe, works in many situations and can often change the dynamics unnoticed. Research shows that in 84% of cases where a bystander intervenes, the situation improves. Distract offers a low-threshold way to make that difference.
Although Distract sometimes seems to do little to change the prevailing norm, because the person harassing someone else is not directly corrected, it has an important function. It helps de-escalate the situation and offers immediate support to the person being harassed. Moreover, afterwards, when it is safer, you can apply one of the other Ds to take further action. It may feel like you are not making much difference to the whole problem, but you can make a difference to that one person, in that moment. In the long run, Distract contributes to culture change because it consciously activates bystanders to recognise situations as potentially dangerous and act accordingly.
How can you use Distract?
Here are a few practical examples of how to apply Distract:
- Ask a question: Ask the time, directions, or make a comment about something you notice, such as ‘Hey, do you know where the bus stop is?’ or ‘That music sounds really good, do you know what song that is?’
- Create a distraction: Drop something, like your bag or keys, or start a conversation on any topic.
- Improvise: Pretend you know someone. Say, for example, ‘Hey, long time no see! How are you?’
- Change the topic of conversation: At work, for example, ask if someone can take a look at a task or start a new discussion.
The difference you can make
Distract allows you to intervene discreetly and effectively. The person being harassed feels supported and the situation can unload without becoming dangerous for you or others. Small actions like this help create a culture where harassment is not tolerated.
Want to learn more about Distract and other strategies to intervene safely? Join Fairspace’s #Distract5D training and discover how you can make a difference. Together, we will create a safer environment where everyone can be themselves.
