SCHOOL BULLYING

School Bullying

School Bullying

Introduction

Much is now known about bullies and victims, including some surprises: bullies have friends and admirers; victims look like other children; bullying occurs everywhere; victimization is a social event. Discoveries on prevalence, consequences, causes, and prevention often contradict popular assumptions, which is one reason bullying among children has become a productive topic for scientists of many disciplines. Although not reviewed here, bullying among adults has also captured attention. Yet much remains to be discovered, especially from a developmental perspective. A summary of publication history helps explain the current state of knowledge and the urgent need for more scientific research.

Research on bullying among children has benefited from findings in both of these areas, but bullying has not yet received the decades of scientific attention required for a comprehensive understanding. Ironically, one reason for gaps in research is that interest typically arises from practical and urgent concerns, when a sudden death in school brings public attention and research funding. This immediacy sometimes clashes with the patient, cumulative process of developmental science, as emotions allow science to be forgotten.

Limitations Of Research

Within the past 15 years, scholars have shifted from indifference to fascination regarding bullies. Olweus inspired researcher's world-wide, undertaking major studies in Australia, Canada, England, Finland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, and, more recently, the United States. They defined and explored terminology, assessed prevalence, searched for consequences and causes, and attempted prevention in thousands of schools, making major progress on the first two of these five, definitions and prevalence, over the past 15 years.

One reason is that, when science leaves a vacuum, superstition rushes in—sometimes with cruel consequences. Thousands of popular books and guides for parents, children, and teachers promulgate untested and sometimes destructive suggestions. For example, Amazon.com in July 2006 featured three books about bullies. In one, titled How to handle bullies, teasers, and other meanies, the author writes: “Bullies are not born that way. They are turned into young bullies by big bullies.

Assumptions Of Research

More research is needed is that bullying is surprisingly common, affecting almost every child worldwide, harming them not only at the moment but sometimes for years to come. Fortunately scholars are beginning to understand how to intervene, but often it seems as if the scientific method has been forgotten. Much more work needs to be done; this article offers an update that may lead to appreciation of what has been accomplished, realistic expectations about what remains to be done, and thus, it is hoped, renewed effort.

Definition Of Key Terms

Science depends on clear, operational definitions, yet a major problem with popular advice as well as with early research on victimization has been lack of clarity. The term “bully” was not understood, nor were the distinct characteristics of bullies, victims, and bystanders. On these, scientists have made commendable progress.

Part II: Literature Review

Since the times beginning, people have been involved in major efforts to improve its public schools. Improving the quality of education is a central goal of the educational reform ...