Inaction speaks louder than words: The problems of passivity

Much has been written about bystander apathy, which occurs when an outsider (i.e., the bystander) is hesitant to act during a situation that clearly calls for action. However, what about when the individual called to act is an insider? This article asserts that insiders (i.e., players, or organizational actors) exhibit similar passive behaviors but not because they are apathetic. Players who are internal to the organization and are often responsible for the outcome are expected to act. Rather, when confounded by ambiguous situations, obfuscated communications, time pressure, and confusion, players often stand by befuddled. This article surveys two such cases. First is the recent case of Joe Paterno, the famed and beloved Penn State football coach of 62 years whose otherwise remarkable career was tainted by his failure to adequately act following a child abuse allegation of a staff member. Second is the case of the Vancouver Olympic Committee and the death of a young athlete on their newly built luge run. Those responsible failed to act when the danger of the track's extreme speeds were well known. The article compares the two cases and concludes by proposing remedies to mitigate inaction.