THE MODEL IS BASED ON PREVIOUS RESEARCH, WHICH IDENTIFIED TWO PSYCHOLOGICAL PROCESSES WHICH FACILITATE VIOLATION OF SOCIAL NORMS. THE FIRST IS DEINDIVIDUATION, WHICH ENABLES INDIVIDUALS TO BLOT OUT AWARENESS OF THEIR DEVIANCE. THIS PROCESS IS AIDED BY ALCOHOL, DRUGS, PSYCHOLOGICALLY ABNORMAL STATES, AND UNSTRUCTURED SITUATIONS. GROUP DEINDIVIDUATION ALSO OCCURS IN GANG SITUATIONS. THE SECOND PROCESS IS DEHUMANIZATION OF THE POTENTIAL VICTIM. EVIDENCE SUPPORTING EACH OF THESE MECHANISMS IS CITED AND VICTIM BEHAVIOR WHICH REINFORCES THEM IS DISCUSSED. THE ROLE OF BYSTANDERS AS UNINTENTIONAL ACTORS IN THE DRAMA IS EXAMINED. THE VICTIM IS URGED TO INVOLVE THEM ACTIVELY, BY ASKING FOR SPECIFIC HELP IN CLEAR, UNAMBIGUOUS TERMS AND BY SINGLING OUT A SINGLE PERSON TO AVOID DEFUSION OF A FEELING OF RESPONSIBILITY. RATIONALIZATIONS OFFERED BY BOTH CRIMINALS AND BY APATHETIC BYSTANDERS ARE EXAMINED. BOTH SETS OF EXCUSES SHOWED THE SAME DEINDIVIDUATION AND DEHUMANIZATTION ELEMENTS. BEHAVIORS WHICH THE VICTIM CAN USE TO OVERCOME THESE ELEMENTS ARE GIVEN IN DETAIL. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT IF POTENTIAL VICTIMS CAN BE TAUGHT TO ACT IN A WAY WHICH WILL INCREASE HUMANNESS AND MAKE BOTH OFFENDERS AND BYSTANDERS FEEL RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS, THE OFFENDER-VICTIM INTERACTION CYCLE WILL BE CHANGED AND CRIME WILL BE AVERTED OR THE POSSIBILITY OF INJURY WILL BE LESSENED. AN EXTENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY IS APPENDED. (GLR)