Psychology 1230: Psychology of AdolescenceOverview: Aggression--BullyingSupplementary ReferencesBullyingBullying: OlweusBackgroundDefinition & IncidenceGender & Grade Effects: Who is VictimizedGender & Grade Effects: Who BulliesForms of BullyingWhere Does Bullying OccurThe VictimA Provocative VictimThe BullyMore About the BullyContextual Factors that Facilitate BullyingSchool-based InterventionWhat Can I Do?Summary of: Aggression--Bullying1Psychology 1230: Psychology of AdolescenceDon HartmannFall 2005Lecture 20 (0ld16): Bullying2Overview: Aggression--BullyingBullyingIncidenceCharacteristics of bullies & VictimsInterventionIntersects with text, pp. 408-409Next: Lect. #21: Schools3Supplementary ReferencesPlease note style!Hodges, E. V. E., Boivin, M., Vitaro, F., & Bukowski, W. M. (1999). The power of friendship: Protection against an escalating cycle of peer victimization. Developmental Psychology, 35, 94-101.Olweus, D. (1994). Bullying at school: What we know and what we can do. Oxford, UK: Blackwell. [Primary lecture reference.]Olweus, D., Limber, S, & Mihalic, S. F. (1998). Bullying prevention. Boulder, CO: Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence.4Bullying5Bullying: OlweusFor two years, Johnny, a quiet 13-year-old, was a human plaything for some of his classmates. The teenagers badgered Johnny for money, forced him to swallow weeds and drink milk mixed with detergent, beat him up in the rest room and tied a string around his neck, leading him around as a “pet.” When Johnny’s torturers were interrogated about the bullying, they said they pursued their victim because “it was fun.”6BackgroundFirst began to attract scientific attention in Scandinavia in the ‘60sIn the early ‘80s things really started cooking with the report that three early adolescents in Norway had committed suicide as a result of being the victims of bullyingScandinavian, English, and US investigators primary contributors7Definition & IncidenceA student is being bullied or victimized when he or she is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more other studentsIncidence: Varies across studiesIn Scandinavia: 15% of kids involved; 5% serious bullyingIn US, around 30% of kids involved in bullying.8Gender & Grade Effects: Who is Victimized9Gender & Grade Effects: Who Bullies10Forms of BullyingVerbal harassment is more common among both boys and girls than is physical bullying.Physical bullying is more common among boysoGirls often use more subtle and indirect ways of harassment such as slandering, spreading of rumors, and manipulation of friendship relationships (relational aggression)11Where Does Bullying OccurThe majority of bullying takes place in school—rather than going to or coming from school Size of school, class and location of school seem to make little difference. It is correlated—negatively—with teacher density. The attitudes of teachers toward bully/victim problems and their behavior in bullying situations are of major significance for the extent of bully/victim problems in the school or the class.?12The VictimPhysically slighterAnxious and insecure; cautious, sensitive, and quietWhen attacked, react with crying—at least in the lower grades—and withdrawalLow self esteem; often feel stupid, ashamed, and unattractiveLonely and abandoned at school; often no friendsHave parents who are either intrusive, demanding, and unresponsive; or anxious and overprotective.Child dependent upon parentsShort-term effects: Depressed, lose interest in schoolLong-term effects: Even into their 20s victimized individuals were likely to be depressed and had poorer self-esteem.13A Provocative Victim14The BullyBullies tend to be larger—particularly than their victimsAggressive toward kids and adultsNo evidence that “underneath it all, they were anxious and insecure”Some are popular!May have a following. Older bullies are less likely to be popularComponent of a more general antisocial and rule-breaking behavior pattern. More likely to have criminal convictions in their 20s15More About the BullyFamily characteristics: lack of parental warmth and involvement; permissive with regard to aggression; parental use of power assertion disciplinary techniquesSocial Cognitive Skill DeficitsDo bullies fails to understand the feelings of others and has little awareness of what other children actually think of them (Nelson on the Simpsons), or Are they “cleverly manipulative? The research literature suggests that the latter is more true than is the former. See the British investigators, Sutton & Smith versus Crick & Dodge in Social Development, 1999.16Contextual Factors that Facilitate BullyingSocial contagion (imitation)Weakening of control over aggressive inhibitionsDecreased sense of personal responsibility (diffusion of responsibility)Perceptual degradation of the victim17School-based InterventionEffective Components involve school-wide, classroom, and individual-person components (Olweus)Support from principal & formation of coordinating group Awareness & involvement: e.g., anonymous survey, school conference day; PTA meetingAdequate supervision during free timeClass rules & class meetingTalks with involved students & their parentsInvolve older peer as monitors for bullyingDevelop friendship groups for bullied children18What Can I Do?19Summary of: Aggression--BullyingBullying: Incidence, characteristics of bullies & victims, & interventionNext: Lecture #21 SchoolsGo in