BULLYING IN THE
UNITED STATES
HOW CAN WE COMBAT THIS GROWING DANGER? SASHA PERRY
MOLLY PETERSON
ZACK SHIELDS
CAMERON JOHN
TABLEOFCONTENTS
BACKGROUND………………………………….…1 WHO IS A BULLY?.................................4 EFFECTS OF BULLYING………………….8 SOLUTIONS TO BULLYING……………11 CONCLUSION………………………………….…14 .
BACKGROUNDOF BACKGROUND
BULLYING BULLYIN G: INTIMIDATE,
1
USE SUPERIOR STRENGTH OR INFLUENCE TO TYPICALLY TO FORCE HIM OR HER TO DO WHAT ONE
WANTS.
HISTORY
BULL YING: USE OF SUPERIOR STRENGTH OR INFLUENCE TO INTIMIDATE OTHERS.
Bullying has been a serious issue for many years. In the 18th century, bullying was almost as common as it is today. However, until recently, bullying was seen as an innocent act of play between schoolboys.
BULLYING IN THE 1800s In 1862, the term “bullying” was finally recognized in a newspaper. The (London) Times published a story abut bullying regarding a soldier who underwent “systematic bullying” in the army and underwent many attacks from a fellow soldier, John Flood. As a result of this article, bullying became something that received more attention and research. Even still, bullying was considered to be something that could be handled by “being a man: and ignoring the issue.
A NEWS STORY, DETAILING THE BULLYING BETWEEN JOHN FLOOD AND ANOTHER SOLDIER WAS PUBLISHED ON AUGUST 9, 1862 IN THE LONDON TIMES.
BACKGROUND
MODERN BULLYING In 1970, bullying took a real turning point. Dan Olweus, Doctor of Psychology, has been studying bullying for over 30 years. In 1970, he released a study showing the true impacts of bullying in school-aged children (6-18). He eventually published a thoroughly researched journal on the issue entitled Agression in the S chools: Bullie s and Whipping Boys. Olweus’s research led to a more significant fight against the bullying trend and brought awareness to the general population. This ultimately brought to light the new meaning of bullying. In modern days, the United States Federal government has created law s to crack down on bullying in schools. No Child Left Behind, passed by President George W. Bush in 2001 created some boundaries to help protect students with special needs of all sorts. Educators are now able to gain greater insight on how to help stop these issues from starting and continuing. However, there still seems to be a need for greater legislation to help prevent the issue. State governments all over the country are beginning to pass their own individual law s to prevent bullying in local schools.
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DAN OLWEUS , A PSYCHOLOGIST, BEGAN RESEARCH OF BULLYING IN 1970 AND HAS PUBLISHED NUMEROUS BOOKS AND JOURNALS ANALYSING THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF BULLYING. AGRESSION IN THE SCHOOLS: BULL IES AND WHIPPING BOYS: PUBLISHED IN 1980, DETAIL ED THE ADVERS E EFFECTS OF ADOL ESCENT BULL YING.
SINCE 200 0, MANY STATES HAVE PASSED THEIR OWN LAWS, CR IMINAL IZING SERIO US BULL YING.
BACKGROUND
BULLYING IN THE
3
UNITED STATES
BULLYIN G: USE SUPERIOR STRENGTH OR INFLUENCE TO INTIMIDATE, TYPICALLY TO FORCE HIM OR HER TO DO WHAT ONE WANTS. WHO IS BEING BULLIED?
85% 77% VERBALLY BULLIED. 18% PHYSICALLY BULLIED. OF TEENS ARE BULLIED
OF TEENS ARE REGULARLY
LGBT WEIGHT RACE ECONOMY
OF TEENS ARE REGULARLY
MORE 32THAN
MILLION TEENS ARE BULLIED EVERY YEAR.
BULLYING MOSTLY EFFECTS TEENAGERS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 15 AND 17.
BULLY
WHO IS A BULLY?
PROFILE
There are several types of bullies, ranging from those who aim to be violent to those who aim to humiliate others. No matter the kind of bully, each perpetrator tends to have his or her own types of habits. The four most common bullying groups are violent, verbal, cyber, and em otional.
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80% OF VIOLENT BULLIES ARE Bullies who display violent behaviors are perhaps the most immediately dangerous MALE. VIOLENT BULLIES
group of bullies. Most of these bullies are boys, ages 13 and up. Violent bullies display regular bursts of physical violence. They will push, punch, shove, pull hair, etc.
Most commonly, violent bullies will target other boys, but, on occasion, they will target female victims. Violent bullies generally come from impoverished areas, and are commonly associated with drugs and alcohol.
60% OF MALETO-MALE BULLYING IS VIOLENT
40% OF VIOLENT BULLIES HAVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES.
BULLY
VERBAL BULLIES Verbal bullying is characterized by habits of name-calling, social out-casting, spreading rumors, and gossiping. Most commonly occurring amongst girls, it starts from a very early age, and generally does not stop till adulthood. According to bullyingstatistics.org, somewhere near 95% of girls have been victims of verbal bullying, and almost just as many girls have been perpetrators. The extent of the issue varies based on age group and economic status, but it seems to be a recurring issue in all groups. Verbal bullying is the most common form of bullying, and also the most difficult to identify and punish.
CYBER BULLIES Cyber bullying generally happens outside of the school, making is extremely difficult to punish on a large scale. Cyber bullying is bullying that occurs solely over the Internet, usually via social media like Facebook or Instagram. Many people group media like texting with cyber bullying.
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VERBAL BULLYING IS THE MOST POPULAR FORM OF BULLYING.
95% OF GIRLS ARE VICTIMS OF VERBAL BULLYING TO SOME DEGREE.
TEACHERS HAVE IDENTIFIED VERBAL BULLYING AS THE MOST DIFFICULT TO MANAGE.
75% OF PARENTS ARE UNAWARE OF WHAT THEIR CHILDREN DISCUSS ONLINE.
BULLY
6
Cyber bullying is the form of bullying that is shared equally by males and females. Many believe that cyber bullying can never be managed, since it is so hard to keep track of. There is a large debate on whether or not it should be handled by school administration, parents, or no one at all.
EMOTIONAL BULLIES Emotional bullies are perhaps the most strategic and harmful subset of bullies. They aim to target people based on their unchangeable personality traits. Common victims of emotional bullying include homosexuals and those of low socioeconomic background.
CYBER BULLYING AFFECTS EVERY SUBCULTURE.
VICTIMS OF EMOTIONAL BULLYING ARE USUALLY TARGETED BASED ON THINGS LIKE RACE, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, WEIGHT, OR ECONOMIC STATUS.
Emotional bullying has the most serious implications, including personal infliction of pain, including suicide. Many emotional bullies tend to act quietly, and victims are least likely to speak up.
EMOTIONAL BULLYING RESULTS IN THE MOST SERIOUS ISSUES.
BULLY
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WHO BULLIES AND HOW?
GIRLS AND
BOYS
MALE HARASSERS: -PHYSICAL VIOLENCE -SEXUAL
60%
BULLY IN MUCH DIFFERENT WAYS.
FEMALE HARASSERS: -CYBER -VERBAL
60% 75%
OF MALE-TO-MALE BULLYING IS VIOLENT.
50%
OF FEMALE-TO-FEMALE HARASSMENT IS VIA THE INTERNET OF FEMALE-TO-MALE HARASSMENT IS VERBAL
OF MALE-TO-FEMALE BULLYING IS SEXUAL.
40%
OF RECU RRIN G BULLIES ARE MALE.
60%
OF RECU RRIN G BULLIES ARE FEMALE.
EFFECTS
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EFFECTS OF
BULLYING
Bullying has countless effects on the adolescent population, suicide being one of the most serious. Every day, children and teens are effected emotionally and physically as a result of what they must endure during their school days.
EDUCATIONAL EFFECTS As a result of bullying, many students’ education is put at risk. The need to protect themselves from bullying puts a huge weight on the learning abilities of students everywhere. Ever more seriously, bullying can cause students to fail classes and ever resort to dropping out of school. In fact, over 7,000 students drop out of school every year due to bullying.
SOCIAL EFFECTS Early childhood years are some of the most difficult, when it comes to making friends. Bullying can have a serious effect on children’s’ abilities to interact with their peers in a positive way.
ONLY PASSED BY PARENTAL ABUSE, BULLYING IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST REASONS STUDENT’S DO POORLY IN SCHOOL.
160,000 STUDENTS AVOID SCHOOL DUE TO BULLYING EACH YEAR.
BULLY
9
Whether it is a bully who is preventing a child from making friends, or a loss of self-esteem due to previous bullying, bullying has a definite weight on a child’s ability to make friends and succeed socially.
EMOTIONAL EFFECTS Emotional effects of bullying are the cause of the greatest amount of concern. Those who are bullied begin to lose self-esteem and begin to devalue themselves. This is why combatting the bullying trend is so important. Bullying can lead to serious emotional effects, such as depression and anxiety. Victims of bullying are more likely to suffer from selfinflicted pain, such as eating disorders of cutting themselves. Nearly every year, suicide rates of bullying victims rise, showing that bullying has, and is continuing to have serious emotional effects on all age groups.
5,000 STUDENTS COMMIT SUICIDE DUE TO BULLYING EVERY YEAR.
MORE CHILDREN UNDER 18 THAN ANY OTHER TIME IN HISTORY ARE TAKING ANTIDEPRESSANTS AND ANXIETY MEDICATION.
BULLY
EFFECTS OF
BULLYING
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5,000 160,000 7,000
TEENS COMMIT SUICIDE EVERY YEAR DUE TO BULLYING. TEENS AVOID SCHOOL BECAUSE OF BULLYING.
STUDENTS DROP OUT AFTER BEING BULLIED. CHILDREN WHO ARE BULLIED ARE
VICTIMS OF BULLYING ARE
3X
35%
MORE LIKELY TO COMMIT A VIOLENT OFFENCE AGAINST ANOTHER CHILD.
MORE LIKELY TO BULLY OTHERS.
SOLUTIONSTO SOLUTIONS
BULLYING
Everyone, from the government to school administrations, is looking for ways to solve the growing bullying issue. No one can debate the fact that something needs to be done, however, it is difficult to determine who should be in control and what should be done. In the end, parents, school staff, and other adults in the community can help kids prevent bullying by talking about it, building a safe school environment, and creating a community-wide prevention strategy.
75% OF THE AMERICAN POPULATION NOW RECOGNIZES BULLYING AS A HUGE ISSUE.
TALKING ABOUT IT Parents and teachers should help children understand what bullying is and what it causes. Once children have a better understanding of why bullying is wrong, they will be more likely to report bullies and less likely to bully on their own. Parents can start a conversation with their children by holding family meetings and always being aware of what their children are doing on the Internet. If parents have a better understanding of how their children interact with others, they will have a better understanding of how to educate and discipline their children.
PARENTS WHO ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THEIR CHILDREN’S LIVES REDUCE CAHNCES OF BULLYING BY 25%.
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SOLUTIONS
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BUILDING SAFE SCHOOLS School administrators and teachers need to create a more efficient way to monitor the bullying that occurs in their schools. There also needs to be a larger sense of accountability for bullies. The best thing that schools can do to create safer environments is to implement zerotolerance policies when it comes to bullying. If students all have the understanding that they will be punished for improper behavior, there will be a greater understanding of the importance of the issue. Another thing schools should make a habit of is educating their students on the effects of bullying and make sure that students feel comfortable talking to adults about what is going on in their own lives. If students feel that they can talk freely with their teachers, they will be more likely to report bullying they experience or witness.
PREVENTION STRATEGIES The last way a community can efficiently combat bullying is to create a communitywide agreement to prevent future bullying. PIKAS METHOD The Pikas method to addressing bullying is based on the idea that bullying should be undertaken by building empathy through
MANY SCHOOLS HAVE STARTED REPORTING SERIOUS BULLYING DIRECTLY TO THE AUTHORITIES.
SCHOOLS WITH ZEROTOLERANCE POLICIES FOR BULLYING HELP PREVENT BOTH CURRENT AND FUTURE BULLYING.
ANTOL PIKAS CREATED THE PIKAS METHOD TO PREVENTING BULLYING IN 1980. IT HAS BEEN WIDELY USED IN SCHOOLS SINCE.
SOLUTIONS
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support groups.
The system includes these following steps: 1.
2.
3.
4.
Each bullying suspect is interviewed in turn and in private without accusation, and the plight of the victim is shared. Once understood and acknowledged, the bully will discuss what to do to repair the situation. Another set of individual meetings is held to check the progress and build a constructive solution. A therapist meets with the target and provides support and preparation for a complete group meeting, them all bullies involved meet together to discuss how they will resolve with the target. A final meeting with the target present is held to enact the solution.
One study found a 30% reduction in bullying as a result of the Pikas Method, and a 70% reduction in destructive bystander behavior. 80% of students reported more knowledge was gained about bullying after an intervention program. Even if the Pikas method is not practical for every group of children, the important thing is to make sure a system is implemented that every person in the community can participate in. In order to truly prevent bullying, a group effort must be taken.
THE PIKAS METHOD IS ONE OF THE ONLY BULLYING PREVENTION METHODS THAT ACTIVELY INVOLVES BOTH PARTIES OF THE ISSUE.
BECAUSE IT PROVIDES REHABILITATION FOR THE BULLY, THE PIKAS METHOD HAS SUCCESSFULLY DECREASED BULLYING IN MANY COMMUNITIES.
CONCLUSION
IN CONCLUSION Â
Â
No matter whom the student is or what group they may be a part of, every child has been a victim of bullying at some point in their lives. Some children are greatly affected by bullying, to the point that they take their own lives. Every year, the number of bullying victims rises. This is clearly an issue that is not going away and should be prevented for the sake of future generations. No matter who we are, whether it is a fellow student, a parent, a teacher, or just any person on the street, we can help prevent bullying in our communities simply by being attentive and addressing any problem we happen to see. The only real solution to bullying is to create an environment where bullying is simply unacceptable. As we strive to create this environment for the future generations, we will create a better world for us all.
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APPENDIX Â
SASHA PERRY- EDITOR
I Â am a junior at Brigham Young University, majoring in Communications. Though I am a Communication major, my one true love is Political Science, and political issues in general. In the future, I would love to go into politics of some kind.
I am from Boise, Idaho. Idaho is a great place to grow up. It is safe. Everyone seems particularly kind. But, even with this sort of upraising, I experienced quite a lot of bullying throughout my schooling career. In 7th grade, I switched schools, from a conservative charter school, to a public middle school. Right from the beginning, I was bullied continuously by my peers and friends. Since graduating high school in 2011, bullying has been an issue near and dear to my heart. I personally believe that bullying is a public safety issue, and should be handled as such. This project has only solidified my belief that this is an issue that should be handled with urgency. As editor, I have explored all of the different bullying topics and issues, and helped bring this book together with cohesion and style. I have enjoyed working with this group and learning more about this very important issue.
MOLLY PETERSON – WRITER NUMBER 1
I am a wife and a mother of four beautiful children. I am currently in my last semester of college and will receive my BS in communications/marriage and family relations. I currently live in Manteca, CA, so I have been finishing my schooling online. My team selected the issue of bullying because we feel it’s a topic that has been an issue for years. It is a problem in our society that needs attention. In our issue book we talk about the current issue and history of bullying, statistics of bullying, as well as different ways to solve the problem. As a member of my team, I was in charge of researching the history and problem at hand. I researched the history of bullying. I also researched the cause and main reasons people bully others, as well as covering the type of people who are usually bullied. As I learned more about the subject of bullying and it’s history, I was amazed how large the problem is. I was also in awe about the history of bullying. It’s been going on for centuries and not until the behavior was categorized as bullying did it gain attention. I’ve come to realize the epidemic that it is and the work we need to do as citizens to help prevent it from becoming an even bigger problem.
ZACK SHIELDS- WRITER NUMBER 2 I am a sophomore studying communications at Brigham Young University-Idaho. I grew up in Las Vegas Nevada and I am the 4th out of 5 kids. One thing you should know about me is I really love to argue, mostly about sports, but you can really get me going on any subject that I am passionate about. Our team selected the issue of bullying because it is a prevalent issue in today’s society. Many kids and teens struggle with bulling on a daily basis. This is a preventable issue and the word should be spread on how to prevent it. As a member of this team, I was given the role of writer #2. As part of my role, I did strategic research on the scope of bullying issues. I conducted interviews in order to come up with a realistic solution to put into this issue book and I was able to compile my findings in an organized manner. I learned so much through this research project. I learned how prevalent bullying is in today’s society, and I also learned that there are so many far-reaching effects from this issue. I learned specifically that there are certain types of people who become the target of a bully. One of these is homosexual children or people in general. This is helpful knowledge because we can start support groups for these people and perhaps prevent bullying if we know where to look for it.
CAMERON JOHN- WRITER NUMBER 3
I am a junior at BYU-Idaho. I am fortunate to be married
to a beautiful, strong, and inspiring woman. I grew up in Idaho but I have lived in the Portland Oregon area for two years and have grown to love the state. Bullying is an area I have been involved on both sides of. My memories of being bullied have affected me in life altering ways. I remember church gatherings for scouts where I was out casted. No matter what tent I called to sleep in, and who had called to sleep in them before, would suddenly be empty and every time I’d sleep alone with the scoutmaster. I have also bullied and have a difficult time reflecting upon it. The two people I bullied both were greatly affected by this issue. One committed suicide in middle school. I have not been able to get over it since. In short, the ramifications of bullying are obvious in my life experience and have hurt and taught me a great deal. I hope the awareness programs find great success and I hope our society soberly and reactively considers the problem for the true problem that it is. I completed the research upon the ramifications of the issue. The statistics seem to agree with my personal opinion and experience. Studies show the effects are both immediate and long-lasting, that a great portion of student populations are affected, and also that interventions are effective at addressing the rate of occurrence and effect. Upon completing this assignment I have come to realize that it’s important that I be involved. I feel a responsibility to help with this issue how I can because the mindset on both sides of this issue only get worse when school is over. Bullies commit crimes more frequently, and victims find depression and consider suicide.
Works Cited
Bannink, Rienke, et al. "Cyber And Traditional Bullying Victimization As A Risk Factor For Mental Health Problems And Suicidal Ideation In Adolescents." Plos ONE 9.4 (2014): 1-7. Academic Search Premier. Web. 27 June 2014. Battey, Glenda J. L., and Vicki Ebbeck. "A Qualitative Exploration Of An Experiential Education Bully Prevention Curriculum." Journal Of Experiential Education 36.3 (2013): 203-217. Academic Search Premier. Web. 27 June 2014. Bullying: Facts for Schools and Parents. 2010. Web. Accessed July 6, 2014. Bully Free. 2014. Web. Accessed June 27, 2014. Bullying Statistics. 2013. Web. Accessed June 27, 2014. dosomething.org. 2014. Web. Accessed June 27, 2014 Kid Power. 2013. Web. Accessed July 6, 2014. Make Beats Not Beat Downs. MBNBD. 2009. Web. Accessed June 27, 2014 Migliaccio, Todd, and Juliana Raskauskas. "Small-Scale Bullying Prevention Discussion Video For Classrooms: A Preliminary Evaluation." Children & Schools 35.2 (2013): 71-81. Academic Search Premier. Web. 27 June Nobullying.com. 2013. Web. Accessed June 27, 2014. Perius, Jessamyn G., et al. "Trends In Bullying, Physical Fighting, And Weapon Carrying Among 6Th- Through 10Th-Grade Students From 1998 To 2010: Findings From A National Study." American Journal Of Public Health 104.6 (2014): 1100-1106. Academic Search Premier. Web. 27 June 2014. Pikas, Anatol. "New Developments Of The Shared Concern Method." School Psychology International 23.3 (2002): 307. Academic Search Premier. Web. 27 June 2014. stopbullying.gov. 2013. Web. Accessed July 6, 2014. Â Wong-Lo, Mickie, and Lyndal M. Bullock. "Digital Aggression: Cyberworld Meets School Bullies." Preventing School Failure 55.2 (2011): 64-70. Academic Search Premier. Web. 27 June 2014. Â