Bystanders

In our society, any criminal is punished with jail time or, in some cases, the death penalty. However, the episode of Black Mirror, "White Bear," presents a society in which, a certain criminal's punishment is experiencing, in the victim's shoes, the crime she took part in. It may seem like a fair punishment, but in my opinion, is not reasonable. The "Justice Park" takes this certain criminal, Victoria, and turns her ongoing punishment and torture into an attraction. Just as we would think that being responsible for such a heinous act, kidnapping and torturing a little girl, would affect Victoria, the "Justice Park" and all involved who are inflicting the same torture on Victoria is concerning. Crowds of people gather to watch, protest, and lash out against Victoria as she is driven by, supporting her torture and punishment. This all is led by specific leaders and a man who is so influential to get people to hate her and participate in her entertaining punishment, but I think very few people would actually be so determined as to actually torture Victoria themselves. It is a little odd that so much time and energy is being spent on Victoria's punishment; as if no other person has ever committed a crime or done wrong, so much hate it being projected on Victoria. I also think that Victoria's punishment is not an effective one because she is not even aware of the crime she's committed while being punished and there is no rehabilitative retribution for her. There is seemingly no purpose for torturing Victoria because she can't even remember each day and the torture she experiences. The only people who experience and remember her torture are the witnesses and leaders of the "Justice Park." Psychology often studies the "Bystander Effect" where witnesses to some event just stand by and do not intervene. This is the case for all who are ever filming behind their phones: Victoria and the "Justice Park" visitors. The "Justice Park" is committing the same crime on a larger scale and the reason that all of these visitors are so invested and cooperative is because of a variety of social influence, crowding, and group polarization. The "Justice Park" and its leader presents Victoria at a distance and in a depersonalized way for people to watch. The leader also appears to be close, legitimate, and backed by an institution that is the "Justice Park" so people are more increased to comply and participate. The crowding of people together also intensifies peoples' emotional reactions. Group polarization occurs when people of similar attitudes discuss an issue, for example: highly prejudice people become more prejudice.