This document provides an overview of bullying, including definitions, types, prevalence, characteristics of students who bully and are victimized, risk factors, and approaches to prevention and intervention. It discusses definitions of bullying, teasing, and conflict; estimates that 20-25% of students bully and 5-20% bully consistently; risk factors for students who bully like desire for power and control; and effective intervention strategies like school-wide programs that are intensive, carefully monitored, and include parent training.
Understanding and Intervening with Students Who Bully
1. Amanda Nickerson, PhD Associate Professor and Director Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention University at Buffalo [email_address] gse.buffalo.edu/alberticenter NYSUT “See a Bully, Stop a Bully” November 14, 2011
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3. Intentional, usually repeated acts of verbal, physical, or written aggression by a peer (or group of peers) operating from a position of strength or power with the goal of hurting the victim physically or damaging status and/or social reputation Olweus (1978); United States Department of Education (1998)
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5. Teasing : Fun, good-natured, “give-and-take” between friends to get both parties to laugh Bullying : Based on a power imbalance; intent to cause psychological or physical harm; usually repeated Conflict : A struggle, dispute, or misunderstanding between two equal forces
Adults should treat children AND other adults with respect It is especially important to reinforce peers for making positive comments towards rejected peers Activities for interaction should also be with children with disabilities
Despite prevention efforts, bullying may still occur. Peer mediation or conflict resolution is contraindicated in bullying situations due to the power differential between bully and victim.
Lamb J, Pepler DJ, Craig WM: Approach to bullying and victimization. Can Fam Physician 2009, 55 (4) : 356-360