Bullying in Middle School

1. Bullying in Middle School Lisa Marteny Tina Smith Jason Bartlow

2. Bullying in the Media

3. 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

4. What is Bullying? Direct Bullying Indirect Bullying Social isolation and exclusion from a group Most common form • Relatively open attacks on the victim • Most common form • Verbal (name-calling)

5. Where does it occur? • In or close to school • Most common sites • Playground • Hallways • Adult supervision is minimal • Peaks during the middle school years

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Video • YouTube

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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.

22. 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

23. Where is cyber bullying found? • IM ( Instant Messaging) • Social sites • myspace or facebook • E-mails • Text messaging • Gaming sites

24. 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.

25. Leading cause of cyber bullying • Impulsivity • Not realizing the consequences of their actions before they act. • Emotionally driven responses.

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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.

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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.

32. 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.”