- Bullying involves repeated cruel actions where one child bullies another. It typically lasts around 37 seconds but can have long-lasting psychological effects on victims. - Bullying can take verbal, physical, or relational forms. Around 15% of students are involved in bullying either as victims or bullies. Younger students and boys are more likely to be victims or bullies. - Bullies intend to distress victims through demonstrating power over them. Bullies tend to be confident and aggressive while victims are typically quiet and passive with few friends. Bullying is often hidden from adults.

1. BULLYING Presented by: Steven Vitto, M.A. & Sue Mack, M.A. M.A.I.S.D. Behavioral Consultants A Positive Behavioral Support Project SUDERMAN & JAFFE 1996 CENTER FOR CHILDREN & FAMILILIES

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. 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.

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

8. 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

9. 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.)

10. 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

11. Individual Factors Temperament Active and Impulsive Physical Strength Superiority Complex

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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

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

17. 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

18. 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.

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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.

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