Psychological Effects of Bullying: Bullies, Targets and Bystanders

Sandra Burkhardt, Ph.D., ABPPSaint Xavier University

Chicago, ILburkhardt@sxu.edu

Session Objectives

• identify forms of bullying and relational aggression

• recognize characteristics of bullies, targets and bystanders

• discuss the psychological effects of bullying on bullies, targets and bystanders

• review strategies for bullying prevention efforts at home and school

What happens if…

Bully

Bystander

Target

Bullying Defined

Five features of bullying

used for research purposes.

Greene, 2000

1. The bully intends to inflict harm or fear upon the victim.

2. Aggression toward the victim occurs repeatedly.

3. The victim does not provoke bullying behavior by using verbal or physical aggression.

4. Bullying occurs in familiar social groups.

5. The bully is more powerful (either real or perceived power) than the victim.

Relational Aggression

…includes behaviors that are designed to affect a child's inclusion in the peer group and damage friendships

(Crick & Grotpeter, 1995).

Levels of Bullying

• Individual – one bully

• Group - clubs, cliques, crowds, clubs, teams, gangs

• Organizational/institutional –the school, the workplace, the family - mobbing

What we are learning about bullies.

• The successful bully• The smart bully• The thrill seeker• The bully victim• The violent bully• The disturbed bully• The socialized bully

Griffin & Gross (2006)

“It was also noted that studentstended to report higher rates of bullying as comparedwith parents and teachers.”

Veenstra, R., Lindenberg, S., Munniksma, A., & Dijkstra, J. K. (2010)

The findings revealed that bullies were only rejected by those for whom they were a potential threat

Bullies select victims who reduce the possibility of loss of affection by choosing victims who are not likely to be defended by significant others.

Male Hierarchy

Leader

Allies

Bystanders

rivals

victims

defenders

What are defenders?

Social competenceEmpathy

Barchia and Bussey (2011)

Factors Affecting Male Social Patterns Newman, M., Woodcock, A., & Dunham, P. (2006).

Faculty and StaffStaff attitudes, both male and female, play a critical role in creating school culture.

This was found to be particularly the case when a male administrator emphasized the link between sporting achievement and being a ‘real’ guy.

A Female Faculty’s ExperienceWhen I did voice my dismay at sexist and

homophobic attitudes, this would be interpreted as being humorless and

overly serious, conforming to a

stereotypical view of feminists held by a

surprising number of other female staff

members as well males.

Female Influence

Targets

Bystanders

Allies

Leader

rivals victims

defenders

Relational Aggression

The Bullies: Mean Girls• You can’t sit there• You can’t sit with us• You can’t talk to her

Behaviors that occur through a third party such as social exclusion, rumor spreading and unpleasant emails or text messaging

The Bystanders• Mind your own business• Don’t be a tattletale• You’ll get yours• Getting someone into

trouble for something they have not done

Psychological Effects of Bullying

Duffy & Sperry, 2012

The student was the subject of a recent conversation in the faculty lounge, where some faculty members said the student needed to "toughen up," while others expressed concern for the student’s well-being.

Duffy & Sperry, 2012

The student's main strategy has been to try and keep away from the group of kids, but the student trusted fewer "friends," feeling both angry and sad, and having a hard time concentrating.

Risk Factors for Targets

• Depression• Anxiety• Injury• Academic failure• Drop-out• PTSD• Bully victims

Risk Factors for Bullies

• Oppositional Defiant• Antisocial Personality traits• Conduct problems• Academic failure

SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES????????

Are Bullies Popular?

• This study asks whether bullies have higher social status than their victims.

• Social status was measured by social preference, popularity, and physical competence as perceived by children and teachers

Rodkin & Berger (2008)

Rodkin & Berger (2008) cont’dMale Bullies

Powerful, popular, aggressive bullies targeted unpopular male victims

Unpopular, aggressive boys targeted popular girls.

There was an overlap of bullying, aggression and sexual harassment

Male Hierarchy

Leader

Allies

Bystanders

Gender Comparison Goals of Bullying Behavior

Males• Dominance • Display of physical

power • Increased control

Females• Dominance• Display of social power • Increased influence

Age and Gender Findings

Consistent with expectations, males were rated overall as engaging in more fighting and

overt aggression than females.

Griffin & Gross (2006)

Griffin & Gross (2006) cont’d

However, contrary to expectations, no support was found for the notion that bullying behavior would decrease with age.

Examination of gender differences suggested that in Grade 6, boys demonstrated higher levels of overt bullying behavior; in Grade 10 girls exhibited higher levels of relational bullying behavior.

Predisposing Factors

Just like other models of abnormal child and adolescent behavior, child and teen bullies are themselves at risk.

Predisposing Risk Factors:Witnesses to Domestic Violence

Relating to others is learned in childhood and becomes the blueprint for future relationships.

Exposure to domestic violence increases the risk of involvement in coercive and hostile relationship.

Wolfe, Crooks, Chiodo, & Jaffee, 2009

DV and Bullying

Victims of child abuse may proceed to adulthood “perpetuating bullying and harassment with peers and dating partners”.

Negative childhood experiences may predispose but do not determine later negative behaviors.

Effects of Child Maltreatment

Teasing becomes bullying, and bullying transforms into forms of harassment and dating violence, such that abuse and coercive forms of control become the critical dynamic by which relationships are defined and maintained.

Shields & Cicchetti, 2001

Effects of Maltreatment

Children who have been exposed to the abuse of women in their home are at greater risk of distorted interactions with others.

Potential source of relational aggression.

Shields & Cicchetti, 2001

Bullying and ADHD

• ADHD has been associated with increased bullying and increased risk of being bullied.

• Students who reported taking medication for ADHD were at increased risk for bullying as well as victimization by bullies.

• The correlation between ADHD status and bullying could be explained by low self-control.

• In contrast, the correlation between ADHD status and bullying victimization was independent of self-control.

Unnever & Cornell, 2003

Treatment of ADHD and Bullying Risk

• Self-control influenced bullying victimization through based on gender, physical size and strength.

• Bullies were most likely to have little self-control and be relatively heavy.

Gender Identity

• Increased risk of victimization was due to perceived or actual LGBT status

• There is an association between adolescent gender nonconformity and young adult psychosocial adjustment (i.e., life satisfaction and depression).

Toomey, Ryan, Diaz, Card, & Russell, 2010

Suggestions for Assessing for Bullying

Ask open-ended questions to generate conversation without provoking defensiveness.

"Tell me about recess? How do the kids behave when they're not in the classroom? How do you feel when you're on your way to school in the morning?"

Teachers need to consider bullying broadly, watch for both overt and subtle bullying, which the study found to be associated with gifted bullies. Intervene immediately.

Peterson and Ray (2006)

Bullying and Gender Identity

• Schools to implement policies and procedures to prevent harassment due to LGBT status and gender nonconformity (antiharassment).

• Procedures and other policies and programs should promote a safe school environment.

• Education should be provided about gender expression and LGBT issues to students, administrators, staff, and teachers .

• Schools should provide the opportunity for a support or social group for gender nonconforming and LGBT students, such as a Gay–Straight Alliance,

Human Rights Watch, 2001

Gender Identity Risk Factors

Sexual minority youth in schools with Gay–Straight Alliances reported fewer suicide attempts than students without Gay–Straight Alliances in their schools.

School administrators, teachers, and staff members should examine the physical structure of their schools to find new opportunities to create safer environments for gender-nonconforming and LGBT students.

Goals for Bullying Prevention: Increasing Social Competence

Transition times increase vulnerability to bullying

Vulnerable Time

The move from elementary to middle school means new groups, cliques, crowds and clubs.A major change in social dynamics.

Vulnerable Time

The lack of maturity to cope with social stress may lead to bullying.

“This is also the age at which the peer group becomes such a strong influence, and excluding or humiliating someone in a social setting can be an effective, albeit occasionallycruel, tactic to gain social recognition”

Competence Factors

Increase perceived popularityImprove physical competenceProhibit relational aggressionProhibit overt aggressionPromote pro-social activitiesIdentify and reduce shy behaviors

Ben

• Increased perceived popularity – Classroom honors and activities

• Improved physical competence– Demonstrated his skills

• Promoted pro-social activities– Mentored new student

Betty

• Increase perceived popularity – defender big sister figure

• Practice social skills to reduce shyness. • Relied upon structured and supervised

socialization as needed for security.

Bully in the making????

• 12 year old male• ADHD diagnosis, hyperactive and impulsive• Precocious puberty, a big guy• Poor academic performance

Vincent

Competence FactorsVincent

• Increase perceived popularity – clubs, after school activities

• Improved self-monitoring – magician act• Academic assistance – Honor Roll