BULLYING

Bullying

Bullying

Introduction

Bullying can be defined as consistent, purposeful negative behavior that is directed toward another individual or the persistent abuse of power, which is perpetrated by children and adolescents against their more vulnerable peers. It can take many forms including physical, verbal, and social aggression and is a prevalent part of school life that can have serious, detrimental effects on those who are involved. It can also occur among adults in workplace settings. Although girls and boys are equally likely to be involved in bullying, girls are more likely than boys to use social aggression.(Espalage, 2004) Bullies themselves are often quick tempered and may target their victims simply for fun or because they often have many witnesses, including teachers, and can gain a great deal of status from engaging in this type of behavior. This implicit sanctioning of bullying helps to create an unsafe environment. Intervention and prevention programs that are targeted at the whole school are considered to be the most effective in reducing levels of bullying.(Olweus, 2007)

Bullying includes physical aggression (e.g., hitting, kicking, and aggressive gestures) and verbal aggression (e.g., threats, insults, and mocking). Other forms of social manipulation that are directed at undermining the individual's social standing (e.g., spreading distasteful rumors) can also constitute a form of bullying.(Nansel, 2001)

Forms of Bullying

The most obvious forms of bullying behavior are those that involve physical aggression, which may be minor or may lead to severe physical injuries or disfigurement. As with any sustained assault, bullying may result in psychological trauma for the victim. Other forms of bullying behavior may be verbal in nature and can include name-calling, threats of physical aggression, and hostile teasing.(Espalage, 2004) Similar to physical bullying, verbal bullying also has the potential to have a negative psychological impact on the victim. The final category of bullying behavior includes more indirect forms that are designed to socially exclude the victim or damage the individual's social standing by changing the peer group's perception of the victim. (Nansel, 2001)

Bullying in Context

Physical and verbal bullying behavior can occur on the playground, lunchroom, before and after school (e.g., on the bus or near the school entrance), at school camps, or during school excursions. For high school students, the bullying may occur in hallways during the transition between classes. Although bullying usually occurs out of the teacher's sight, more subtle but direct behaviors may occur within classrooms in front of teachers.(Espalage, 2004) These behaviors may include social exclusion and the use of negative body language or other comments and actions. In the presence of the teacher some of these may be disguised as 'teasing' or as 'an accident' (e.g., tripping an individual, leaving something unpleasant on a child's seat).(Smith, 2004)

Identifying Bullies

Although not all children engage in bullying behavior, the typical bully is not easily distinguishable from peers. That is, boys and girls from all socioeconomic backgrounds, religious affiliations, cultures, sexual orientations, and abilities have the potential to engage in bullying behavior at some point in their ...