BULLYING Presented by: Steven Vitto, M.A., CCII. Behavior Consultant M.A.I.S.D. Behavioral Consultant A Positive Behavioral Support Project

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

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

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

Verbal taunts, name-calling, put-downs

Threats and intimidation

Stealing of money and possessions

Exclusion from peer group

Ethnic or racial slurs

Gender slurs and sexual harassment

Prevalence 15% of students are involved 9% are victims 7% bully others repeatedly More students in younger grades are victimized Boys are more likely to be bullies than girls

15% of students are involved

9% are victims

7% bully others repeatedly

More students in younger grades are victimized

Boys are more likely to be bullies than girls

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

Dynamics of Bullying A power difference between bully and victim Bullies tend to be confident, aggressive, and lack empathy for the victim Bullies come from homes where there is poor supervision, and modeling of a tolerance for aggressive behavior Victims tend to be quiet, passive children with few friends Victims do not respond effectively to aggressive actions. Bullying often done so that adults are not aware of it. Victims are ashamed, and often don’t tell an adult.

A power difference between bully and victim

Bullies tend to be confident, aggressive, and lack empathy for the victim

Bullies come from homes where there is poor supervision, and modeling of a tolerance for aggressive behavior

Victims tend to be quiet, passive children with few friends

Victims do not respond effectively to aggressive actions.

Bullying often done so that adults are not aware of it.

Victims are ashamed, and often don’t tell an adult.

Bully Myth It is a myth that bullies are insecure underneath their bravado. Research indicates that their self-esteem is average or above average.

It is a myth that bullies are insecure underneath their bravado. Research indicates that their self-esteem is 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

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 are different for boys and girls. Female victims are bullied by both boys and girls. Male victims are usually bullied by males. Boy are more like to perpetrate “direct bullying” Girls are more likely to engage in “indirect bullying” (e.g. social exclusion, manipulation of friendship relationships, spreading rumors, etc.)

Female victims are bullied by both boys and girls.

Male victims are usually bullied by males.

Boy are more like to perpetrate “direct bullying”

Girls are more likely to engage in “indirect bullying” (e.g. social exclusion, manipulation of friendship relationships, spreading rumors, etc.)

What causes bullying? Family 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

Family 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 Temperament Active and Impulsive Physical Strength Superiority Complex

Temperament

Active and Impulsive

Physical Strength

Superiority Complex

School Factors Lack of Supervision during unstructured times Denial of the problem Type of intervention Climate Community Building Efforts

Lack of Supervision during unstructured times

Denial of the problem

Type of intervention

Climate

Community Building Efforts

Who are the victims? Tend to be quiet and shy Tend to be passive Lack confidence in physical abilities and strength Poor or deviant social skills A subgroup who are “provocative” (i.e., they can be both bully and victim) Difference in appearance or ability

Tend to be quiet and shy

Tend to be passive

Lack confidence in physical abilities and strength

Poor or deviant social skills

A subgroup who are “provocative” (i.e., they can be both bully and victim)

Difference in appearance or ability

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

Tend to be unhappy child

Often try to avoid school

Suffer from fear and anxiety

Low self esteem

High incidence of suicidal or self-destructive behavior

What are the long term consequences for the bully? Tend to be aggressive adults Significantly higher rates of criminal convictions. Tend to be negative and anti-social Tend to model bullying to their children Tend to have difficulty as an employee

Tend to be aggressive adults

Significantly higher rates of criminal convictions.

Tend to be negative and anti-social

Tend to model bullying to their children

Tend to have difficulty as an employee

ALL CHILDREN, INCLUDING BYSTANDERS, ARE NEGATIVELY EFFECTED WHEN BULLYING OCCURS

ALL CHILDREN, INCLUDING BYSTANDERS, ARE NEGATIVELY EFFECTED WHEN BULLYING OCCURS

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

Don’t frame reporting as tattling

Provide good supervision

Provide effective consequences for bullies

Provide social and interpersonal skill training

Provide ongoing community building

Creating a supportive and inclusive environment

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.

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 School The 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

The 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 Bullying Parents: What would you say are the most important causes of bullying in school? Top five responses: Lack of discipline/punishment Low self-esteem/insecurity Lack of parental involvement/attention Learned behavior from parents Child is different in some way

Top five responses:

Lack of discipline/punishment

Low self-esteem/insecurity

Lack of parental involvement/attention

Learned behavior from parents

Child is different in some way

Teachers: Causes of Bullying Teachers: What would you say are the most important causes of bullying in school? Top five responses: Low self-esteem/insecurity Child is different in some way Learned behavior from parents Lack of parental involvement/attention Lack of discipline/punishment

Top five responses:

Low self-esteem/insecurity

Child is different in some way

Learned behavior from parents

Lack of parental involvement/attention

Lack of discipline/punishment

Key Findings: Bullying in School Preventing 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

Preventing 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 Bullying Parents: 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: Discourage bullying behavior in own child Pursue solutions with teacher Pursue solutions with parents of bully Pursue solutions with principal Teach child methods of dealing with bully

Top five responses:

Discourage bullying behavior in own child

Pursue solutions with teacher

Pursue solutions with parents of bully

Pursue solutions with principal

Teach child methods of dealing with bully

Teachers: Preventing Bullying Parents: What do you think a teacher's role should be in preventing or dealing with bullying? Top five responses: Communication with children Teach child methods of dealing with bully Get involved in situation Discipline bully Teach children tolerance Top five items mentioned by teachers involve their own actions rather than pursuing solutions with other adults.

Top five responses:

Communication with children

Teach child methods of dealing with bully

Get involved in situation

Discipline bully

Teach children tolerance

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