We were not prepared for #metoo when it blew up Twitter in October 2017.

In many ways, we still aren't. We live in a society that confines survivors to silence. Our only avenues to address harm do little to prevent its recurrence. Trapped within a binary of silence or punishment, it's no wonder so many of us remain frozen in place even as the disclosures continue. Punishment requires both certainty and authority, which most bystanders lack. But once the silence has been broken, we can't return to it.

Few of us are strangers to the nagging feeling that arises within that paralysis. We intuit—correctly—that we have some kind of responsibility when harm happens among those we care about, but what is it? And if we have responsibility, do we have rights?

Combining behavioral neuroscience and insights from those on the frontlines of harm intervention, Disrupting the Bystander helps us break out of paralysis so that we can best support those we love—whether they were hurt or hurt someone else.

about the author

A.V. Flox took a break from tech and science journalism to learn how to confront harm, help those who have been harmed, and support those who caused the harm to own the impact of their actions, do repair, and begin the work to change. Using her own lessons and failures as a guide, A.V. weaves science and best practices, bringing readers frameworks and tangible tools they can use to confront harm in their lives. She has written for LA Times, Village Voice, LA Weekly, Motherboard, and Gizmodo. This is her first book.