Bullying: Perceptions of Adolescent Victims in the Midwestern USA

Abstract

Retrospective data were collected from adolescent students in order to clarify perceptions of victimization by bullies in small-town midwestern schools. Seventy-two percent of females and 81 percent of male respondents felt that they had experienced bullying at some point in their student careers (76.8 percent overall). Fewer students were considered chronic victims as self-reported severity of bullying increased. Though there are some difficulties in making a direct comparison, preliminary results indicate that victimization by bullies is more prevalent in the USA than in European countries.

Prosocial Behavior as a Protective Factor for Children’s Peer Victimization

“…A recent call by peer victimization researchers suggests that those in the field should begin to focus on the variations in children's responses to peer victimization and what factors may serve to protect these children from its negative outcomes (see . In a recent study of middle and high school students evaluating their victimization experiences throughout school, findings indicated that although a significant number of students report being victimized at some point in school (nearly 76.8%), only about 14% estimated significant trauma affecting their social and academic outcomes (Hoover, Oliver, & Hazler, 1992). These findings shed light on the need to not only study children who report negative effects from victimization, but the need to study those who report little to no negative effects from victimization.…”

“…There are current researchers, though, who suggest that the landscape of peer victimization is much more heterogenous than past research has indicated (Hanish & Guerra, 2002;KochenderferLadd & Ladd, 2001;Kochenderfer-Ladd & Skinner, 2002;Goodman & Southam-Gerow, 2010). In the face of victimization from peers, some studies suggest there are children who report little to no effects on their adjustment (Hoover, Oliver, & Hazler, 1992 …”

“…Further, in a study examining fourth and sixth grade children, Khatri and colleagues (2000) found no relations between victimization and self-rated depression. Findings have also indicated that although almost all school-age children report being a victim of bullying at least once, many of these children report not feeling this experience severely affected them (Hoover, Oliver, & Hazler, 1992).…”

Schoolchildren's social representations on bullying causes

“…Previous research indicates that schoolchildren tend to attribute causes of bullying to the victim by interpreting him or her as deviant or different (e.g., different appearance, behavior, clothes, or way of speaking) (Bosacki et al, 2006;Buchanan & Winzer, 2001;Frisén, Holmqvist, & Oscarsson, 2008;Hamarus & Kaikkonen, 2008;Hazler & Hoover, 1993;Hoover, Oliver, & Hazler, 1992;Teräsahjo & Salmivalli, 2003;Varjas et al, 2008). A recent study has shown that peer-perceived atypical behavior of a child is in fact related to higher levels of social rejection and peer victimization among schoolchildren (DeRoiser & Mercer, 2009).…”

Bullying E Suas Dimensões Psicológicas Em Adolescentes

“…O problema é que, muitas vezes, esses alunos não conheceram outras formas de se relacionar senão pela agressão, submissão e pelo menosprezo (Hoover, Oliver, & Hazler, 1992). Não seria, então, o caso de ajudá-los a confirmar que o outro a quem desprezam se sente tão mal quanto eles se sentiriam na mesma situação?…”