Recent coverage of the Cambridgeshire train attack, which took place on 1st November 2025, has sparked discussions about how humans respond to life-threatening situations and the psychology of heroism. LNER employee Samir Zitouni exemplified this when he risked his life to save passengers, with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stating, ‘There are people who are alive today who wouldn't be where it not for his actions.’

Contrary to Hollywood portrayals of panic-stricken crowds, research reveals that heroism and mutual aid are natural human responses to crisis. Leading psychologists emphasise that ‘bystander apathy’—the phenomenon popularised by the Kitty Genovese case—is a myth. Professor Stephen Reicher notes that people characteristically help each other during emergencies, as demonstrated during the 7/7 London attacks, for example. Heroism often emerges through sophisticated group coordination, where strangers spontaneously work together—some directing others to safety, some distracting attackers, and others confronting threats directly. As Reicher explains, ‘Heroism was a feature of the group, not just the individual.’

Our responses extend beyond simple ‘fight or flight.’ As social beings, we possess a ‘tend and befriend’ drive—an instinct to protect loved ones and help the harmed. Running away doesn't equate to cowardice; removing yourself from danger is adaptive and rational, and many people then return to assist others once they have escaped the immediate threat.

Several factors influence heroic behaviour: having pre-existing mental schemas of yourself as a helper, previous emergency experience, and identifying as someone who contributes positively to the world. These schemas become crucial when stress reduces our prefrontal cortex functioning, forcing us to rely on instincts and mental templates. Emergency personnel excel because they've learned to manage fear and calmly assess situations.

Experts recommend fostering these natural helping tendencies through bystander intervention training across schools, universities, policing, and the NHS. Professor John Drury emphasises that authorities should use unifying language during emergencies—talking about ‘the community’ and ‘we’ rather than ‘the public’—to reinforce our inherent sense of connection and facilitate people's strong natural tendency to help one another.

In the UK, the charity Mind is available on 0300 123 3393.

References: Caught up in a violent attack, would you be a hero – or would you run? Both can be valuable – Emma Kavanagh https://www.theguardian.com/co... (accessed 8.11.25)

‘Heroic actions are a natural tendency’: why bystander apathy is a myth’ Amelia Hill https://www.theguardian.com/so... (accessed 8.11.25)

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS!

1. One response to an emergency is the ‘fight or flight’ response. What does this term refer to?
2. What changes take place in the body to prepare us for the ‘fight or flight’ response?
3. A pre-existing schema of yourself as a ‘helper’ might make you more likely to help in an emergency. What is the role of schema in human behaviour?
4. How people act in real-life situations forms the basis for most research in this area. This is often referred to as ‘observational research’ and is an alternative to ‘experimental research’. What difficulties might psychologists face when trying to conclude these real-life situations?
5. If a psychologist studied the stress responses of people who had experienced an emergency compared to people who hadn’t experienced one, what experimental method would they be using?

Challenge: research bystander intervention training, what does it include? How does it try to make sure people step up in an emergency?