BULLYING IN SCHOOLS

Bullying in Schools

Bullying in Schools

Problem Definition

Bullying is associated with many acts of violence in public schools. It generally involves intentional cruel behavior between the person who exhibits this behavior and the students who are victims of bullying behavior. Bullying may involve physical or verbal acts intended to harass, intimidate, or create anxiety and fear among victims. There is often a pattern of repeated antisocial behavior toward others, but bullying may also involve a single incident. Bullying can create a hostile school and classroom environment and occasionally result in serious injury or death, as has been seen in a number of school shootings, including the tragedies in Littleton, Colorado (Columbine High School); Williamsport, Pennsylvania; and Santee, California. In other cases, victims of bullying may respond violently after repeated acts of violence have been committed against them.

Bullying in Schools

A bully, depending on the circumstances, may be charged criminally if he or she exceeds age twelve. Bullying may begin among adolescents with simple joking behavior that escalates into physical contact based on relationships. Although simple joking and physical contact may be acceptable among friends, similar behavior may not be acceptable if positive social relationships do not exist. The intent of bullying is to create stress or a sense of helplessness among victims. The effects of bullying can be devastating to the victim and may linger for years after bullying incidents occur because bullying tends to embarrass and humiliate victims. (Olweus, 2003)

Bullies, particularly those who engage in physical and verbal abuse, tend to be known by all students because of their behavior. Many times victims of bullying, out of fear or desperation, feel a need to protect themselves or strike back, which most often results in victims responding with violence. Other victims may resort to self-inflicted injuries to escape bullying behavior.

Problem Statement:

Bullying has become the most common form of school violence and is on the rise, with 43 percent of all middle school children either victims or perpetrators (sometimes both) of chronic bullying that included threatening, name-calling, punching, slapping, sneering, and jeering. Experts in aggressive behavior believe there is no easy way to stamp out bullying.

Importance

Bullying refers to repeated acts of aggression by one or more students directed toward a victim who often appears weak or isolated and thus is more vulnerable. The bully's intention is to receive peer approval and to assert power by dominating the victim. Bullying behaviors can take ...