Hot Topic: Bullying Prevention

Introduction

One of the most frequently occurring acts of school violence and/or abuse in our schools today is Bullying. Bullying is very common; almost everyone has either been bullied or bullied someone else at least once in his or her lifetime. Surprisingly, it wasn’t until the early 1970’s that serious attention was given to bullying and any real efforts were made to study this phenomenon (Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, 2002). Perhaps one of the most disturbing facts about bullying is that often times it occurs right under the noses of the adults we hold responsible for watching and keeping our kids safe at school (The Family Centre, 2002). Bullying is occurring on playgrounds, in classrooms, and even in people’s homes throughout not only the U.S., but the world. Today, bullying is a hot topic and has come under intense public and media scrutiny, mainly due to findings that suggest it has been a major contributing factor in many child suicides and school shootings (OJJDP, 2001).

Bullying by Definition

Bullying is a form of inter-child aggression which occurs when a child is exposed, repeatedly over time, to negative actions on the part of another child. What distinguishes bullying from the usual conflicts between children is that bullying behavior is a combination of power and aggression. Bullies prey on those who cannot or will not defend themselves. A child who is perceived to be helpless is almost always an instant victim. There are 4 forms of bullying: physical (hitting/kicking); verbal (name-calling, insults, racist comments, teasing); relational (gossip/ostracism); and reactive (taunting). Bullying has long-term effects on both the victims and their bullies alike (Voices for Children, 2002).