bystanderism means the tendency to observe a situation without getting involved.
Why “bystanderism” is a great word
The passive observance of a situation, especially one requiring assistance, without offering help or becoming involved. From bystander (from by- + stander, meaning "one who stands near") + -ism (suffix forming nouns denoting a practice, system, or doctrine). Unlike the "bystander effect" (which specifies the psychological diffusion of responsibility in a crowd) or "interventionism" (which advocates for deliberate involvement), bystanderism is the cultivated, individualized posture of the turned cheek. It is the folded arms at a street-corner scuffle, the averted gaze on a crowded subway car, the neighbor who hears shouting and turns up the television—a daily, silent rehearsal of our own irrelevance, the body learning, over time, not to reach.
Etymology
Bystander + -ism
noun
- The tendency to observe a situation without getting involved.e.g.“Bystanderism is the response of people who observe something and do not get involved. Understanding bystanderism is a useful conceptual tool in critical pedagogy.” — 2006, Suzanne SooHoo, Talking Leaves: Narratives of Otherness (page 190)
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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