ABOUT BULLYING IN SCHOOLS |
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Bullying,
to a greater or lesser extent, goes on in every school.
However, the way it is dealt with can make a difference
to the life of the victim. Left unchecked, it can cause
them serious short or long term mental distress.
Bullying
is not just a physical assault. It can include:
- Name calling, malicious gossip and laughing at someone's
misfortune;
- Deliberate social exclusion;
- Threats, extortion and damage to property.
Research
suggests that non-physical bullying is more common than
physical bullying and that it effects can be more damaging
for the victim.
Personality
traits of bullies and victims
Bullies
have found to:
- Be more outgoing
- Be more socially confident
- Show little anxiety or guilt towards victims
- Conform to their own ideas of being dominant and powerful
in their own peer group.
Victims
have been found to:
- Not feel confident in peer interaction
- Have poor handling of aggressive reactions
- Be more likely to show anxiety in social interactions
- Have low assertiveness skills
(Tattum
and Herbert, 1983; Olweus, 1993)
Social
context
Bullying
is a common occurrence amongst most young people. It is
carefully controlled by the bully as a means of validating
their own self-image as powerful within their peer group.
The victim's peer group is generally aware of the existence
of bullying and does not like it. However, they generally
lack the will, leadership or sense that a different style
of social relationship is possible to be able to do much
about it. (Stephenson and Smith, 1989).
About
half of bullying incidents occur on a one to one basis.
The other half involves larger groups. The playground is
the most likely place for bullying to occur although any
unsupervised area eg. Classrooms, corridors, etc. are likely
venues. (Whitney and Smith, 1993).
The
negative effects of bullying
Bullying
effects both the bully and the victim
The
victim may suffer from:
- Decreased self - esteem in the short term (Boulton
and Smith,1994).
- Decreased self - esteem later in life: Boys bullied
between the ages of 13 and 16 were more likely to have
significantly lower self esteem and significantly higher
rates of depression at the age of 23 when compared to
a non - bullied control group (Olweus, 1993)
- Decreased self - esteem and more difficulty in later
life in forming intimate or trusting relationships with
others. (Gilmartin,1987)
- Negatively effected learning abilities. Worried or
upset children do not learn well. They find it harder
to concentrate and solve problems than non - bullied
peers, (Turkel and Eth, 1990)
- Adult disturbance as a result of peer rejection(Parker
and Asher, 1987).
- Suicidal tendencies (Smith and Share, 1994; Burnage
Report, 1989
The
bully may suffer from:
- Negatives outcomes in adult life.
- School bullies are three times as likely than non-bullies
to have a serious court conviction later in life. (Olweus,
1989).
- Being a childhood bully is also a very strong predictor
of delinquency in later life. (Lane,1989).
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