Unit Four: Overcoming Barriers to Heroic Action

Lesson 1: Impact of bystander effects

Often, people see something bad happening to another person, and they do not step in to help. In this lesson, students identify the main bystander effects that inhibit action: 1). fear of embarrassment/going down in the social pecking order; 2). not noticing a need; 3). not knowing what to do, and 4). diffusion of responsibility.

Lesson 2: Pressure to obey

How does the role of authority impact how others behave? What can we do to ensure we are critical thinkers that question authority when necessary, such as when a person in power is abusing that power to harm others? Students will consider strategies for combating the pressure to obey when necessary.

Lesson 3: Power of crowds

What causes a person to follow the crowd? How can someone learn to be comfortable standing out? For middle school students, there is enormous pressure to conform to the group, even when the group isn’t doing the right thing. Students consider how to feel okay being different from the rest of the group and speaking up.

Lesson 4: Power of tribes

When people have something in common with someone (belonging to the same tribe), this influences their willingness to help that person. In this lesson, students will identify ways of building and joining more tribes to increase their positive connections with others, such as by participating in diverse activities.