#64 It’s not my place . . . or is it?

It’s not my place . . . or is it?

When people encounter situations we find unfair or reprehensible, we often feel angry or outraged.  And yet, most of us do not intervene in issues that don’t affect us directly.

Why?

While the answer to this question is complex, one compelling paper highlights a key factor in this decision:  psychological standing, or rather, whether or not we feel it is legitimate for us to get involved.

According to the authors, people feel we have psychological standing when we ourselves are significantly impacted by an injustice.  However, even if we don’t have a vested interest in the issue, we can develop psychological standing by:

·       Determining we have a moral obligation to protest.

·       Linking issues together (e.g. when US gun control was framed as a child protection issue, more women got involved).

·       Being explicitly invited, such as by MÄN, a Swedish feminist organization that targets men.

·       Observing other “non-vested” individuals pushing back.