Understanding and Preventing Bullying

TLDR

Bullying is repeated psychological or physical oppression of a less powerful person by a more powerful one, with high prevalence among school children, gender differences in perpetration, victimization linked to low self‑esteem and emotional distress, often occurring where adult supervision is minimal and potentially leading to later violent crime. The study aims to prevent bullying by enhancing victims’ social and friendship skills, increasing bullies’ empathy, and strengthening adult supervision and whole‑school environments. Prevention methods involve training programs that target victims’ social skills, bullies’ empathy, and school‑wide supervision practices. In Norway, a nationwide campaign against bullying appeared to be successful.

Abstract

Bullying is repeated oppression, psychological or physical, of a less powerful person by a more powerful one. The prevalence of bullying by and of school children is quite high; in some studies, about half of children were bullies, and over half were victims. Boys bully more than girls, but boys and girls are victimized about equally. Generally, bullies are aggressive, tough, strong, confident, and impulsive. Victims are unpopular, lonely, rejected, anxious, depressed, unwilling to retaliate, and lacking in self-esteem. Bullying occurs especially at places and times when adult supervision and surveillance is minimal. There is some continuity over time between bullying and violent crime. Prevention methods aim to improve the social and friendship skills of the victim and the empathy of the bully and to improve adult supervision and "whole-school" environments. In Norway, a nationwide campaign against bullying seemed to be successful.