We might think that bullies are quite different from the victims of bullying. But those who become either a bully or a victim actually share similar outlooks and have similar difficulties dealing with their environments. There is, however, one significant risk factor for bullying.
Researchers reviewed and analyzed 153 studies and found that both victims and bullies have poor problem-solving skills within social situations. They also found that boys bully more than girls but here’s a significant point: Those who do poorly in school are at a higher risk of becoming a bully. The research was published this week in the journal School Psychology Quarterly.
Typical bullies have negative attitudes toward others, feel badly about themselves, and most likely grew up in a home with conflict. Victims share much of same, negative attitude, conflict in the family.
But the dividing characteristic: bullies dislike school and tend to perform worse academically than those who later become victims.
Play the 1 minute Podcast here: podcast_100710.mp3Most current solutions try to enforce anti-bullying rules or simply remove the bully from bullying situations. The authors note, however, that the most successful intervention is three-pronged. They suggest simultaneously targeting the areas that may be influencing the potential bully or victim in the first place: the parents, the peers and the schools.
--Christie Nicholson from http://www.scientificamerican.com
Coping with the bullies 'is part of growing up', says child expert By LAURA CLARK, 28 October 2007
Minor playground spats are blown out of proportion and branded 'bullying', an expert has claimed.
Youngsters must learn to cope with teasing and name-calling so they are able to handle awkward situations as adults, former Government adviser Tim Gill says.
He believes the extent of bullying is being exaggerated by over-protective parents and teachers, who apply the label to childhood squabbles which were previously assumed to be part of growing up.
The claims, in a book published today, are certain to fuel concerns over the escalation of the bullying 'industry'.Police officers warned this year that a target-chasing culture is forcing them to make 'easy' arrests for offences such as bullying.
In one example, a child in Kent was arrested for throwing a slice of cucumber from a tuna sandwich at a classmate.
The latest Government guidance to schools urges heads to record all instances of bullying and report the findings to their local council.
But Mr Gill, who led the first Government-backed review of children's play areas in 2003, warns against mollycoddling children by describing everyday teasing as bullying.
Read more of this article: dailymail.co.uk
See also related articles on Mirror neurons, Emotional Intelligence and The Impact of Rude Behavior on a Business which might be where unresolved bullying or victims end up getting their revenge.
0 comments:
Post a Comment