Bullying in Middle SchoolLisa MartenyTina Smith

Jason Bartlow

Bullying in the Media

Definition• A form of aggression in which one or more children intend

to harm or disturb another child who is perceived as being unable to defend himself or herself

• One in three children are affected by bullying in the U.S.• Marked by intense intimidation that creates a pattern of

humiliation, abuse and fear for the victim.• Most prevalent form of youth violence

What is Bullying?

Direct Bullying• Relatively open attacks on

the victim• Most common form

– Verbal (name-calling)

Indirect Bullying• Social isolation and

exclusion from a group• Most common form

Where does it occur?• In or close to school• Most common sites

– Playground– Hallways

• Adult supervision is minimal

• Peaks during the middle school years

Types of Bullying• Physical bullies

– Action-oriented and use direct bullying behaviors such as hitting and kicking

– Most common among boys

– Become more aggressive

– Behaviors continue into adulthood

• Verbal bullies– Use words to hurt or

humiliate their victims– Happens rapidly– Difficult to detect and

intervene– Devastating effects

Types of Bullying• Relational bullies

– Convince their peers to exclude certain children

– Most often among girls– Can lead to feelings of

rejection at a time

• Reactive bullies– Impulsive– Taunting others into

fighting with them– Most difficult to identify– Fight back, but then

claim self-defense

Characteristics of Bullies• Overly aggressive• Destructive• Enjoy dominating other children• Hot-tempered• Impulsive• Low tolerance for frustration• Positive attitude toward violence• Gain or maintain dominance• Lack a sense of empathy for their victims• Poorer school achievement

Family Background of Bullies• Families are often troubled• Bullies’ parents are hostile, rejecting and indifferent to their

children• Father figure is usually weak, if present at all• Mother is isolated with a permissive parenting style• Supervision is minimal• Parents view the aggressive behavior as acceptable• Discipline is inconsistent• Punishment is physical• Child is ignored

Effects of Bullying• Experience mental health difficulties• May have A.D.D., depression or oppositional-conduct

disorder• Personality defects• Frequent excessive drinking and other substance use• Underachieve in school• Display aggression toward future spouse or children• Have children who become bullies

Video

• YouTube

Characteristics of Victims• Two-thirds are passive or submissive• One-third have aggressive attitudes• Physically, tend to be small and weak• Have “body anxiety” (fear getting hurt)• Unsuccessful at sports or other physical activities• React by crying or withdrawing• Quiet, cautious, anxious, insecure, and sensitive• Poor communication and problem-solving skills• Blame themselves for the bullying• Poor self-esteem

Family Background of Victims

• Parents are overprotective and sheltering• Child is anxious and insecure• Parent fails to teach the child appropriate conflict resolution

skills• Parents are overly involved

Effects of Bullying• See themselves as outcasts and failures• Internalizing disorders: anxiety and depression• May suffer from loneliness, feelings of abandonment,

suicidal thought or increased apprehension• Afraid to go to school• Avoid restrooms at school out of fear of being bullied• Frightened during most of school day• Experience physical injury• Bring weapons to school• Internalize their problems

Characteristics of Bully-Victims

• Called reactive bullies or provocative victims• Bully others and are bullied themselves• Anxious and aggressive behavior• Start fights and are picked on• Tends to tease or provoke bullies• Difficult to identify• Labeled as “hot-tempered”• React with hostility toward students• Not socially accepted by their peers• Low self-esteem

Family Background of Bully-Victims

• Come from trouble homes• Describe parents as inconsistent and abusive• Parents are low in warmth• Lack parental management skills• Parents use power-assertive techniques with their children• Learn hostile behaviors at home

Effects of Bullying• Low self-esteem and a negative self-image• May have oppositional-conduct disorder, depression or

A.D.D.• Greater risk of depressive symptoms, anxiety,

psychosomatic symptoms, eating disorders, and co-occurring mental health problems

• Risk of drinking and substance use• Psychiatric symptoms

Interventions and Implications

• The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program– Comprehensive intervention– Most widely recognized program for addressing bullying– Prompts school personnel to create a school

environment that is characterized by warmth and involvement

– Firm limits on unacceptable behavior– Reductions by 50% or more

Interventions and Implications

• The Bullying Project– Schoolwide zero tolerance policy on bullying– Students are taught how to stand up to bullies– How to get adult help– How to reach out in friendship to students who may be

involved in bullying situations– Interventions for both the bully and the victim– Physical protection– Support group participation– Individual therapy

Interventions and Implications

• Bullybusters– Antibullying campaign– Performance of the play “Bullybusters”

• Act out short skits about common bullying situations in schools

– Teachers are now more willing to report bulling behaviors

– 20% reduction of bullying incidents

Cyber bullying• It is defined as the use of

information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group that is intended to harm others

• Can be especially painful because it can go unnoticed for long periods of time.

Characteristics of cyber bullies

• perceive hostile intent in the actions of others • react quicker to anger than do others • use force sooner than others • hold to rigid beliefs • view image as the way to power• and use aggressive actions to protect their image

Where is cyber bullying found?

• IM ( Instant Messaging)• Social sites

– myspace or facebook • E-mails• Text messaging• Gaming sites

Issues with cyber bullying• Anonymity

– unaware of the identity of the cyber bully/cyber bullies• Participation of an infinite audience

– Making the victim believe everyone knows about their humilation.

• Sexual harassment – Contributing factor to why the victim will not tell anyone.– Feel it is their fault they were chosen.

Leading cause of cyber bullying

• Impulsivity– Not realizing the

consequences of their actions before they act.

– Emotionally driven responses.

Stopping cyber bullying• Early intervention• Parental involvement

– Be aware of what children are doing

– Have strict rules when it come to the internet

– Lines of communication about the internet open

Adults Ignorance• Adults do not consider bullying to be a major concern in

middle schools because:– They were bullied when they were younger and they

“turned out alright”– Bullying is a normal part of growing up

• A rite of passage for boys into adolescence– Schools become desensitized to the bullying that occurs

in their schools

A Gap of Understanding• In a research study of a

middle school in New York both students and teachers were asked about the effect bullying has on their school.

• Teachers believed 16% of their students were bullied.

• While 58% of students reported being bullied.

Providing a Solution• In order for bullying to be stopped, adults must take action.• There are four things that parents can do to prevent

bullying– Making school a positive, caring environment– Setting up guidelines for behavior– Creating logical punishment for bullying– Having adults strictly enforce the rules

Social Status in Bullying Situations

• There are five different groups that form in a bullying situation– Ringleader- Gathers students to bully a student– Followers- join the ringleader at bullies– Reinforcers- encourage the bully and laugh at the victim– Victims- student being bullied– Defenders- try to stop the bullying

Bullying causes Bullying• A major reason why bullies become bullies is because they

are bullied at home.• Sixty per cent of school bullies reported being bullied by

their siblings.• Bully/victims have very poor social skills, problems

following rules, and act out in class.• Bully/ victims also have significant psychological problems.

An End Note• “When bullying is

tolerated, the whole school environment is tainted and students are unable to learn, grow, and interact in a safe, positive atmosphere.”