BeVOCAL is designed to address multiple types of harm and enhance an individual's confidence to intervene. The BeVOCAL initiative seeks to promote intervention as a norm of our community, and in turn change the campus culture. BeVOCAL is unique, as it is designed to build on the existing expertise of campus partners and unite them by using consistent language, content and messaging. BeVOCAL believes that while the issues or types of harm may be different, the action steps to intervention, potential barriers and resources are consistent.
What can harm look like?
BeVOCAL works with partners across campus to address harm, including but not limited to:
What constitutes an emergency?
Anything that requires immediate or urgent response. If you identify an emergency, call 911 immediately.
Spectrum of Care and Harm
The spectrum of care and harm refers to the different ways that bystander intervention can be utilized to prevent and reduce harm while also cultivating a culture of care. Often when people think of moments of harm, they imagine or reflect on imminent harm, such as alcohol poisoning, a physical or sexual assault or an accident with serious injuries. In addition to imminent harm, BeVOCAL recognizes harm that can occur in our cultures and environments and encourages Longhorns to consider how their everyday actions and language might reduce potential harm and promote care. Similarly, we ask that Longhorns also consider their role in supporting anyone who has experienced harm after an incident has occurred. Understanding our responsibility to listen and offer resources post-incident plays an important role in recognizing harm and caring for other Longhorns.
Choosing to respond is a balance between recognizing harm and quick assessment of the situation. There are a number of common barriers that a person might need to overcome to be motivated and willing to intervene. BeVOCAL promotes strategies to help reduce these barriers and empower individuals to assume personal and collective responsibility. Barriers to Intervention Term: Social Influence
Definition: When an individual who observes other people not intervening in a situation, incorrectly assumes there must not be a problem.
Example:“It looks like something Is wrong, but I don't see anyone else doing anything, so maybe it's not so bad after all.”
Term: Diffusion of Responsibility
Definition: The tendency to discount personal responsibility because others are involved. The more people present, the less one feels responsible to intervene.
Example:"I'm sure someone else will dosomething, so I don't need to."
Term: Pluralistic Ignorance
Definition: When someone thinks everyone else accepts a norm and goes along with it. The belief that you are the minority when you are the majority.
Example:"No-one else thinks this is a problem so it's not a big deal."
Term: Fear of Embarrassment
Definition: Showing concern for bringing negative attention to oneself or others.
Example:"I'll be embarrassed if I do anything."
Term: Fear of Retaliation
Definition: When an individual fears a negative consequence or retaliation if they intervene. This could include fear of physical and/or emotional harm, retaliation, lack of support from superiors for attempting to intervene and negative reactions or comments from others.
Example:"If I say something, these guys are going to make fun of me or not include me anymore."
Berkowitz, A. (2009). Response Ability: A complete guide to bystander intervention. Chicago, IL: Beck & Co. Burn, S. M. (2009). A situational model of sexual assault prevention through bystander intervention. Sex Roles, 60(11-12), 779-792. Motivations to InterventionStep 2: Choose to Respond
Step 3: Take Action
Intervention strategies, or the way individuals take action, may appear in many different ways. BeVOCAL emphasizes that individuals can engage by taking direct action or indirect action.
Direct Action: An overt or active approach to intervening that requires direct articulation or expression of concern with the situation. Examples of this could include:
Indirect Action: Also known as a ‘detour’ approach involving less visible forms of intervening. Examples of this could include:
No matter how individuals choose to take action, they are still choosing to intervene, therefore, BeVOCAL emphasizes that there is no hierarchy to these intervention strategies. We want people to first assess their safety, then choose a situation-appropriate form of action that best works for that situation.
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