Social Structure of a Bully in America's Middle Schools
Bullying is destructive for the bullies and their victims. Bullying can be physical or emotional in nature. It may be conducted in person or over the Internet. It involves the use of power, intimidation, aggression and isolation. There are many risk factors that may lead a child to participate in bullying behaviors. Causes include personal, family, peer group and community sources.
Other People Are Reading
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Prevalence
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Statistics indicate bullying is a growing problem in schools across the country. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) web site publishes statistics related to school bullying. The statistics were gathered in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) report. For the report, 15,686 U.S. students were surveyed. Seventeen percent of school age children reported being the victims of bullies and 19 percent reported committing the bullying acts. Six percent of student respondents reported being both a victim and a perpetrator. Another survey, Blueprints for Violence Prevention: Bullying Prevention Program, cited on the OJJDP web site, consisted of 6,500 middle school participants. In the survey, the researchers found that 20 percent of the students were self-reported bullies and 23 percent were the victims.
Personal Characteristics
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Bullies tend to have certain personal characteristics in common. They are often easily frustrated. They may lack the social skills needed for positive peer interaction. They tend to have dominant personalities and to use their size as a weapon of intimidation. They are often impulsive and hot-headed. School bullies dislike or disregard school rules. They view violence as a means of achieving their objectives. During research, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HRSA) found that bullies tend to have a high or extra high level of self-esteem. They think highly of themselves and their ability to affect the lives of others. Bullies tend to engage in a number of antisocial behaviors, including drinking and smoking, truancy, carrying a weapon and frequent fighting. They are more likely to drop out of school than are there non-bullying peers.
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Family Characteristics
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The article, Family Characteristics of Children Involved in Bullying, originally published in "Bullying Special Edition Contributor," and available on Education.com, details the specific family characteristics of bullies. Students who bully are more likely to come from families that are not close knit or are lacking in family warmth. The family structure is likely focused on power and dominance. Many bullies are victims of emotional or physical abuse from parents and siblings. They are often without a father figure. HRSA contends there may be a distinct lack of parental supervision and guidance. Parents may be overly-permissive or overly strict. The family is unlikely to accept the bullying behavior of the child in the home. Therefore, the child of the dysfunctional home copies what he learns in home and transfers his aggression and frustration onto school peers.
Peer and Community Factors
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Students who bully are more likely to associate with other bullies. They share a fondest for violence. In spite of common beliefs, bullies are not loners. They often have a social network of like-minded friends.
Bullies are more likely to victimize the community at large. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found that bullies are at greater risk for illegal behaviors, including theft and vandalism. The HRSA reports middle school bullies are four times as likely to have a criminal record and conviction by the age of 24.
Middle School
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Bullies of all ages share personal and family characteristics. However, there are certain factors that make it more likely a student will bully in middle school. Middle school is often characterized by a transition into the unfamiliar. Middle schools are larger and may involve a mixture of students from several different elementary schools. Also, middle school students are at an age when the desire to be accepted is especially strong.
Prevention/Solution
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Changing the parenting style of the parents of bullies is the first step in prevention. Aggressive behavior should be eliminated in favor of a warm and supportive environment. Parents should develop clear and consistent rules for behavior. Consequences should be neither lax nor severe. Coping behaviors that do not involve aggression should be praised. Parents ought to make an effort to know their child's friends. Additionally, they should encourage their child to become involved in extracurricular activities. In some cases, parenting classes may be needed. Support and professional help for parents and the bully may be beneficial.
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References
- Education.com: Family Characteristics of Children Involved in Bullying
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Children Who Bully
- Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention: Addressing the Problem of Juvenile Bullying
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Bullying Affects All Middle School Kids
Resources
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