BULLYINGBULLYING

Presented by:Presented by:

Steven Vitto, M.A., CCII.Steven Vitto, M.A., CCII.

Behavior ConsultantBehavior Consultant

M.A.I.S.D. Behavioral ConsultantM.A.I.S.D. Behavioral Consultant

A Positive Behavioral Support Project

What is bullying? Bullying is repeated intentionally Bullying is repeated intentionally

cruel actions involving the same cruel actions involving the same children in the same roles, bully children in the same roles, bully versus victim. Bullying occurs versus victim. Bullying occurs once every seven minutes and on once every seven minutes and on average, the incidents are short average, the incidents are short lasting only 37 seconds but the lasting only 37 seconds but the scars from bullying can last a scars from bullying can last a lifetime. lifetime.

Bullying can take many forms Verbal taunts, name-calling, put-downsVerbal taunts, name-calling, put-downs Threats and intimidationThreats and intimidation Stealing of money and possessionsStealing of money and possessions Exclusion from peer groupExclusion from peer group Ethnic or racial slursEthnic or racial slurs Gender slurs and sexual harassmentGender slurs and sexual harassment

Prevalence 15% of students are involved15% of students are involved 9% are victims9% are victims 7% bully others repeatedly7% bully others repeatedly More students in younger grades are More students in younger grades are

victimizedvictimized Boys are more likely to be bullies than Boys are more likely to be bullies than

girlsgirls

The intent of a bully is to put the victim in distress .

Dynamics of Bullying A power difference between bully and victimA power difference between bully and victim Bullies tend to be confident, aggressive, and lack empathy Bullies tend to be confident, aggressive, and lack empathy

for the victimfor the victim Bullies come from homes where there is poor supervision, Bullies come from homes where there is poor supervision,

and modeling of a tolerance for aggressive behaviorand modeling of a tolerance for aggressive behavior Victims tend to be quiet, passive children with few Victims tend to be quiet, passive children with few

friendsfriends Victims do not respond effectively to aggressive actions.Victims do not respond effectively to aggressive actions. Bullying often done so that adults are not aware of it.Bullying often done so that adults are not aware of it. Victims are ashamed, and often don’t tell an adult.Victims are ashamed, and often don’t tell an adult.

Bully MythBully Myth It is a myth that bullies are It is a myth that bullies are

insecure underneath their insecure underneath their bravado. Research indicates bravado. Research indicates that their self-esteem is that their self-esteem is average or above average.average or above average.

Most victims do not report bullying Feelings of shame Fear of retaliation Fear that adults can not or will not protect

the child in the setting where the bullying is taking place

Patterns of bullying and victimization Patterns of bullying and victimization are different for boys and girls.are different for boys and girls. Female victims are bullied by both boys and girls.Female victims are bullied by both boys and girls. Male victims are usually bullied by males.Male victims are usually bullied by males. Boy are more like to perpetrate “direct bullying”Boy are more like to perpetrate “direct bullying” Girls are more likely to engage in “indirect bullying” Girls are more likely to engage in “indirect bullying”

(e.g. social exclusion, manipulation of friendship (e.g. social exclusion, manipulation of friendship relationships, spreading rumors, etc.)relationships, spreading rumors, etc.)

What causes bullying? Family FactorsFamily Factors Poor supervision Lack of warmth Modeling of aggression at home (parent to

parent, or parent to child) Older siblings who bully Witnessing of spousal battering

Individual Factors TemperamentTemperament Active and ImpulsiveActive and Impulsive Physical StrengthPhysical Strength Superiority ComplexSuperiority Complex

School Factors Lack of Supervision during Lack of Supervision during

unstructured timesunstructured times Denial of the problemDenial of the problem Type of interventionType of intervention ClimateClimate Community Building EffortsCommunity Building Efforts

Who are the victims?Who are the victims? Tend to be quiet and shyTend to be quiet and shy Tend to be passive Tend to be passive Lack confidence in physical abilities and Lack confidence in physical abilities and

strengthstrength Poor or deviant social skillsPoor or deviant social skills A subgroup who are “provocative” (i.e., A subgroup who are “provocative” (i.e.,

they can be both bully and victim)they can be both bully and victim) Difference in appearance or abilityDifference in appearance or ability

What are the long term consequences for the victim? Tend to be unhappy childTend to be unhappy child Often try to avoid schoolOften try to avoid school Suffer from fear and anxietySuffer from fear and anxiety Low self esteemLow self esteem High incidence of suicidal or self-High incidence of suicidal or self-

destructive behaviordestructive behavior

What are the long term What are the long term consequences for the bully?consequences for the bully? Tend to be aggressive adultsTend to be aggressive adults Significantly higher rates of criminal Significantly higher rates of criminal

convictions.convictions. Tend to be negative and anti-socialTend to be negative and anti-social Tend to model bullying to their childrenTend to model bullying to their children Tend to have difficulty as an employeeTend to have difficulty as an employee

ALL CHILDREN, INCLUDING ALL CHILDREN, INCLUDING BYSTANDERS, ARE BYSTANDERS, ARE

NEGATIVELY EFFECTED NEGATIVELY EFFECTED WHEN BULLYING OCCURSWHEN BULLYING OCCURS

Ways to Stop Bullying?Ways to Stop Bullying? Don’t frame reporting as tattlingDon’t frame reporting as tattling Provide good supervisionProvide good supervision Provide effective consequences for bulliesProvide effective consequences for bullies Provide social and interpersonal skill trainingProvide social and interpersonal skill training Provide ongoing community buildingProvide ongoing community building Creating a supportive and inclusive Creating a supportive and inclusive

environmentenvironment

Description of the Research Interviews conducted by telephone in August

2001. Nationwide random sample of more than 300

parents and more than 300 teachers. Parents with at least one K-6 child during the

past school year. Teachers who taught at least one K-6 class

during the past school year.

Key Findings: Bullying in SchoolThe five causes of bullying in school mentioned most often by both parents and teachers are:

Low self-esteem/insecurity

Learned behavior from parents

Lack of parental involvement/attention

Lack of discipline/punishment

Child is different in some way

Parents: Causes of BullyingParents: What would you say are the most important causes of bullying in school?

Top five responses:

1. Lack of discipline/punishment

2. Low self-esteem/insecurity

3. Lack of parental involvement/attention

4. Learned behavior from parents

5. Child is different in some way

Teachers: Causes of BullyingTeachers: What would you say are the most important causes of bullying in school?

Top five responses:

1. Low self-esteem/insecurity

2. Child is different in some way

3. Learned behavior from parents

4. Lack of parental involvement/attention

5. Lack of discipline/punishment

Key Findings: Bullying in SchoolPreventing or dealing with bullying:

Parents see their role as involving pursuit of solutions with other parties, such as teachers, school administrators and parents of the bully.

Teachers mainly see their role in terms of their own actions rather than pursuing solutions with others

Parents: Preventing BullyingParents: What do you think a parent's role should be in preventing or dealing with bullying?

Three of the four top items mentioned by parents involve pursuing solutions with other adults.

Top five responses:

1. Discourage bullying behavior in own child

2. Pursue solutions with teacher

3. Pursue solutions with parents of bully

4. Pursue solutions with principal

5. Teach child methods of dealing with bully

Teachers: Preventing BullyingParents: What do you think a teacher's role should be in preventing or dealing with bullying?

Top five responses:

1. Communication with children

2. Teach child methods of dealing with bully

3. Get involved in situation

4. Discipline bully

5. Teach children tolerance

Top five items mentioned by teachers involve their own actions rather than pursuing solutions with other adults.

THE ENDTHE END