School Bullying: Three Levels of Prevention / Intervention

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School BullyingThree Levels ofPrevention /
Intervention

• Dr. Tommy Turner
• Dr. Nancy Fox
• Dr. Jerry Kiser
• ALCA, November 2006
• Mobile, Alabama

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DEFINITION
Bullying - A student is being bullied or
victimized when he/she is exposed repeatedly over
time to negative actions on the part of one or
more students.
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Bullying - A special type of peer interaction in
which a powerful classmate repeatedly
intimidates, exploits, and/or victimizes a weaker
classmate.
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Bullying (Three Elements) 1. The bully exhibits
behavior directed toward the victim that is
designed to hurt, harm or damage the victim
physically, emotionally, and/or socially. 2.
This behavior occurs when there is an imbalance
of power/authority between the bully and victim
(physical size, social status). 3. Happens
repeatedly over time.
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STATISTICS
5-10 of students repeatedly bully peers 81
males / 72 females report being bullied at least
once during their K-12 school years 35-45 of
parents with school aged children reported
feeling fear for their childs safety when the
child is at school
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WHY PREVENTION / INTERVENTION?
Norway 1982 Three boys commit suicide as a
result of severe bullying by peers ______________
________________________ Professor Dan Olweus
responds to this tragedy by developing /
implementing the Olweus Bullying Prevention
Program in 1983.
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UNITED STATES
Examples that are similar to what happened in
Norway
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JAMES KEARBEY (KANSAS, 1985) Age 14 Killed 3
students, Principal Bullied, beaten by the
students for several years. Arrested (Final
disposition unknown)
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NATHAN FARIS (MISSOURI, 1987) Age 12 Killed the
classmate who teased him about being fat Shot /
Killed himself
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BARRY LOUKAITIS (WASHINGTON, 1996) Age
14 Killed 2 students, 1 teacher One of the
students killed had teased him Life in prison
(without parole)
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MICHAEL CARNEAL (KENTUCKY, 1997) Age 14 Killed
3 students, wounded 5 Michael was small and
pudgy, the frequent victim of bullying Life in
prison (without parole)
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LUKE WOODHAM (MISSISSIPPI, 1997) Age 16 Killed
his mother went to school and killed 2 students,
wounded 7 Victim of bullying, stated he could
not take it anymore. Life in prison I killed
because people like me are mistreated every day -
and nobody does anything. I did this to show
society push us and we will push back.
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ERIC HARRIS / DYLAN KLEBOLD (COLORADO, 1999) Age
17 / 18 Columbine High School. Killed 12
students, 1 teacher, wounded 23 students Did not
fit in. Influenced by videos / movies Killed
themselves
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BULLYING FIVE SYSTEMS
1. INDIVIDUAL (STUDENT) Gender Intelligenc
e Temperament / Personality Personal Values
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2. FAMILY Family Structure Size of
Family Socio-Economic Status Parenting
Style Attitude / Involvement
Regarding Education Attitude /
Involvement In Criminal Behavior
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3. SCHOOL Building (Old, New) Building
Maintained Size of Classrooms Student
Teacher Ratio Qualified Teaching
Personnel School / Classroom Rules Student
Supervision
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4. COMMUNITY Urban, Rural Socio-Economic
Status Level of Public Services Level of
Crime
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5. CULTURE Television Films Music Boo
ks Video Games
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Profiles

• Bully
• Victim
• Bully as Victim
• Bystander

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What is a Bully?
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Definition

• Someone who deliberately intimidates, threatens,
  and/or hurts others repetitively over a period of
  time.
• Verbal, written or physical aggression
• Physical aggression
• Rumor spreading
• Teasing
• Practical jokes
• Exhortation

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The Bully

• Strong desire to hurt others
• Exercise an unjust use of power
• Seize a power imbalance
• Personally stronger (physically or socially) than
  the victim(s)
• Assemble a group that is stronger than the victim

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Types of Bullies

• Extrovert
• Outgoing
• Aggressive
• Expressive

• Introvert
• Hide
• Control
• Conform

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Bully Profile

• Attention Seeker
• Usually more popular
• Less likely to empathize with victim
• Less likely to understand others points of view

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Bully Profile

• Self-important
• Often comes from a family that uses harsh
  discipline
• Often have parents that verbally abuse each other
• Wants revenge and it doesnt matter from whom
  they get revenge
• Often jealous of others
• Gender not just boys, girls bully too

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Bully Profile

• Enjoys control over others
• Establishes a power base by testing response of
  less powerful members of group watches how they
  react when small things happen
• Waits to see if the victim will complain. If the
  victim doesnt complain and the peer group allows
  the behavior, the bullying will continue

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Victim Profile

• Passive Victim
• Provocative Victim

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Passive Victim

• Usually weaker and smaller than bullies, more
  helpless
• Less able to defend themselves
• May be different and stands out appearance,
  dress, speech, gender, name, ability, etc.
• Vulnerable
• May lack social skills
• May be shy, lonely, or depressed
• May be anxious and insecure
• May be characterized as over-protected
• Often blame themselves and believe the bullying
  is their fault
• Yields easily to bullying

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Passive Victim Reactions

• Fear petrified
• Depression
• Zombie-like appearance
• Wildly-emotional appearance
• Escapes
• Seeks help

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Provocative Victim

• Usually difficult to recognize
• Annoy others with teasing
• irritating behaviors - dont know when enough is
  enough
• Fight back - but lose in the end
• May have nasty habits
• May be fidgety or nervous
• May be easily aroused emotionally
• Tend to make others feel they deserve it
• May be disliked by adults

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Provocative Victim Reactions

• Fights back
• Physically
• Verbally
• Acts cool
• Distracts
• Amuses or placates the bully

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Bully Victim Profile

• Bullied by others
• Turns the experience around and bullies someone
  weaker than themselves
• Common Parenting Characteristics
• Poor parental warmth
• Abusive and inconsistent discipline and
  monitoring
• Neglect
• View mothers a relatively powerless

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Bystander Profile

• Outsiders - Ignore the bully
• Assistants - Support the bully
• Reinforcers Join in and also bully the victim
• Defenders - Stick up for the victim
• Gophers - Get help for the victim

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What Can Be Done?

• Three Levels Of Intervention
• 1- At the school level
• 2- At the classroom level
• 3- At the individual level
• The bully
• The victim

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What DOESNT Work

• Zero Tolerance policies
• Peer Mediation/Conflict resolution
• Group Treatment for Bullies
• Simple, Short-term solutions

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School Level Intervention/Prevention

• Conduct a bullying survey (Stan Davis-
  http//www.stopbullyingnow.com)
• In-Service education about behaviors, responses,
  resources
• Increased supervision

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School Level Intervention/Prevention

• Coordination Group administrator, grade level
  teachers, counselor, psychologist/nurse,
  parent/student representatives
• Regular meetings with parents and school staff
• Agenda item at PTO/PTA meetings

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Classroom Level

• Enlarged curriculum anger management, conflict
  resolution, communication, cooperation,
  friendship, kindness, diversity
• Class rules brief clear (Olweus)

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Classroom (cont.)

• Rules (cont.)
• We will not bully other students.
• We will try to help students who are bullied.
• We will include students who might be left out.

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Classroom (cont.)

• Immediate consequences for aggressive behavior/
  rewards for inclusive behavior
• Weekly communication with students to clarify and
  reiterate/ to enlist them in prevention
• Communication with parents

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Individual Intervention

• Serious private talks with bully/victim
• Serious talks with parents
• Role playing non-aggressive behaviors
• Role playing assertive behavior

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Prevention/Intervention Summary

• Comprehensive system-group-individual
• Coordinated School Adults, parents, students
• Clear clear values/moral stand
• Continuing Not reactionary

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