Are you the type of person who speaks up when you see something unfair? Or do you walk away?
A new study out of Japan finds that most people avoid confronting injustice—not because they don't care, but because it's mentally exhausting. The research shows that being exposed to unfair behavior forces people to make difficult moral calculations. For many, it's easier to look away and pretend nothing happened.
NBC Palm Springs anchors weighed in during a recent segment.
Stephanie shared, “I don’t believe in ‘out of sight, out of mind.’ I think society has changed. We used to step in when we saw injustice, and now we don’t. It’s becoming an epidemic.”
Sue added, “It’s all about fear. People are afraid of the consequences of speaking up. Sometimes it takes a personal moment—a tipping point—before someone decides they won’t stay silent anymore.”
The study found that while people are often willing to punish unfair behavior, they prefer to avoid seeing it altogether so they don’t have to deal with the emotional burden.
As one anchor put it, “Is that any way to live?” The consensus: definitely not.
The hope is that through awareness and community support, more people will feel empowered to speak out and take action when they witness wrongdoing.
Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.
By: Fred Roggin
June 17, 2025
