Bshs 325 - Bullying Report

Bullying report

Natasha Teets

BSHS 325

12/11/17

                It is the responsibility of school counselors to provide leadership in the prevention of bullying within there schools. This report will provide school counselors with extensive knowledge about bullying and some of the causes for bullying along with tools they can use in the prevention and intervention methods of bullying. Finding an approach to bullying can work towards addressing and ending bullying school wide.

Bullying has become a world-wide problem amongst children in school and can have a lasting affect on both the victim and the bully themselves. Bullying is defined as aggressive or unwanted behavior among children that perceives a power imbalance. This behavior is repeated often. Bullying promotes fear and intimidation in others and can often cause fear in the victim. Bullying has also been known to cause depression and suicide amongst children and teens.

Three forms of bullying include both direct and indirect behavior, and cyber bullying. Direct bullying includes taunting, teasing, physical violence and threats. Indirect bullying can cause a student to become isolated through intentional social exclusion. An example of indirect bullying would be excluding a student from activities. It is normal for the victim to try to fit in only to be rejected time and time again. Cyber bullying is bullying done over the internet through social media, cell phones etc. where the bully can either speak directly to the victim or speak about the person on social media. With technology and social media increasing it makes it easier to bully another student and more often as well.

In 2015 20% of high school students had reported being bullied on school property and an estimated 16% of high school students had reported they were cyber bullied. (Center for disease control and prevention, 2016). Bullying can affect an individual over all health in many ways. Bullying can cause physical injury, social and emotional distress and even death. These victims are more at risk for depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, and poor school adjustment.

Gender can play a role in bullying and the type of bullying being used. Boys are more prone to use direct bullying and physical violence. They are more aggressive physically, as to where girls are more eager to use indirect bullying. They will state they don’t like someone or exclude them from activities and leave them out socially. Although it wasn’t stated directly I feel girls also use cyber bullying more often as well. Studies have shown that direct bullying seems to peak during elementary years and then slowly decline through out middle school and high school however indirect bullying remains constant throughout the years. Studies have also shown that majority of students who are bullying others come from homes where physical punishment is used at home allowing them to feel that physical violence is the best way to solve problems. They often lack the parental guidance and involvement at home and are more eager to act out and not follow school rules.