Are You Prepared to Act When It Matters Most?
A Personal Perspective: What separates upstanders from bystanders in crisis moments.
Updated December 16, 2025 | Reviewed by Abigail Fagan
The Courageous Optimism Theory was developed from a simple and innocent question asked to me by the great Dr. Martin Seligman : What allows officers to run into gunfire when everyone else is running away? After months of research and contemplation, the Courageous Optimism Theory was born. While this theory was centered around the actions of law enforcement, the theory paper notes the Courageous Optimism of civilians as well. Another section of the paper explores the concept of pessimistic cowardice—the inverse of courageous optimism—which describes the failure to act in the face of danger due to lack of will, insufficient skills or tools to be effective, or an inability to overcome fear .
This paradoxical relationship was on full display during the tragic terrorist attack that occurred at Bondi Beach in Australia on December 14, 2025, during a Hanukkah celebration. This was a vicious assault on practicing Jews celebrating the Jewish Festival of Lights—a holiday that speaks directly to positive psychology principles of resilience and antifragility. It is a celebration of overcoming adversity in the face of oppression. As this community gathered on the public beach, known for its freedom to celebrate life in its purest form, they were targeted by extremists who sought to act on the darkness of their antisemitic values and extinguish the Hanukkah light that shone so brightly in these celebrants.
While tragedy struck with many dead and even more injured, there was a local hero who exemplified the purest definition of Courageous Optimism and risked his own life in service to saving others—an upstander of the highest caliber. There were others who were frozen by the moment and surrendered their oath to fear and cowardice, reducing themselves to bystanders . If you reflexively assume that the local police officers on scene ran toward the gunfire while others ran away, which would be a completely reasonable assumption, you would be mistaken. Not all law enforcement officers come to the job with the same sense of purpose, dedication to service of something greater than themselves, or even the requisite grit, zest, and bravery required of the job. Conversely, if you assumed the other people were simply civilians frozen like deer (wallabies) in headlights, you would also be incorrect.
I want to highlight Ahmed al Ahmed, a 43-year-old Syrian-born Australian, father of two, and local produce store owner. He was at the coffee shop at Bondi Beach, simply out for a stroll along the beautiful and vibrant beach as the Australian summer was beginning to take shape. What happened next was unimaginable. Two assailants opened fire on a group of unsuspecting Jewish men and women celebrating joy, turning light into darkness. What these terrorists did not factor in was the Courageous Optimism of Mr. Ahmed. He stalked one of the gunmen from behind cover and, in a moment of opportunity, with pure determination, confidence in his ability, and the courage to act, he pursued the gunman. With decisive action, he tackled the gunman, threw him to the ground, and disarmed him. He then turned the gun on the perpetrator to subdue and hold him at gunpoint for lawful arrest by police. Mr. Ahmed had every right to shoot and kill the terrorist as he attempted to retreat toward gunman number two, but with incredible restraint, he withheld fire. Notably, Mr. Ahmed was also taking fire from the second gunman, who was firing from an elevated position, striking Mr. Ahmed in the hand and arm. Mr. Ahmed stayed in the fight until gunman one was ultimately neutralized by a responding police officer who reportedly took a "once in a lifetime shot.".
The actions of Mr. Ahmed stand in stark contrast to the pessimistic cowardice of the first police officers on scene, who failed to act in their sworn duties. While I do not know if their failure was caused by a lack of self-determination (the will to act), self-efficacy (the skill to act), or simply a lack of courage in the face of fear, that failure cost lives and betrayed their oath to protect and serve. They demonstrated, on many levels, a cowardice and absence of the ability to have the will or skill to positively affect the moment and this act of terror. They stood frozen with their hands in the air, surrendering to the threat and failing to sacrifice themselves for the safety of others. Their inability to serve a cause greater than themselves cost the very lives of those they were sworn to protect.
The profession of policing and law enforcement is not one that just anyone can perform with basic academy training. It is a profession that requires the proper will, skill, and courage to be effective when it matters most. It is not simply about a uniformed presence, traffic enforcement, and attention -seeking social media posts of dancing officers in an attempt to appear relatable. It is about effective training of the heart, mind, and body so that officers have the sense of purpose to act, the skills and tools to be effective (including physical fitness), and the courage to act in spite of fear. Mr. Ahmed exemplifies Courageous Optimism and should be honored accordingly. These police officers displayed pessimistic cowardice and dishonored their badge, oath, and responsibility.
Sadly, and with a heavy heart, I acknowledge that hate and evil exist and will continue to infiltrate our communities in our most vulnerable moments. I fear that we have severely compromised our law enforcement community across the civilized world in its ability to be operationally effective in the most acute moments of attacks on innocence by minimizing what it takes to be an effective law enforcement tactician and operator. Evil and terror can manifest in places where they are least anticipated, and every police officer—from those serving the smallest towns across vast countrysides to those serving the most challenging urban landscapes plagued with generations of violence—must be mentally and physically prepared to give everything of themselves, including their lives, when the moment calls for it.
When law enforcement leaders look to recruit, retain, and promote police officers within their agencies, using the lens and framework of the Courageous Optimism Theory is a valuable measurement tool to provide greater understanding of whether rank-and-file officers will act as upstanders or bystanders .
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David Berez, MAPP, is a retired police officer and positive psychology practitioner.
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This article is part of the Bringwise Psychology Journal — daily insights on human behavior, mental health, and personal growth.