The bystander – a key participant in bullying. The role of factors that determine intervention

The paper discusses the subject of bullying, including bystander experiences. The phenomenon of peer bullying is a significant problem in terms of planning school-based prevention programmes in this area. In most theoretical and empirical studies, researchers describe bullying, focusing on the behaviour of bullies and victims, overlooking the key role of the bystander. The author of this article emphasises the important role of bystanders who, through their intervention, can contribute to the defence of victims, and thus to the reduction of bullying incidents. The article presents selected typologies of bystanders to bullying, emphasising the important role of bystanders who support the victim. In the paper reference was made to the author’s own research, the purpose of which was to gain a better insight into the determinants of taking intervention measures in bullying situations. The research was conducted using in-depth interviews conducted with 23 students aged 20–41. The determinants of intervening or abstaining from intervening are described.