Social Rejection and Bullying

Dr. Clairday

ED 513

Social Rejection and Bullying

What is social rejection?

• Deliberately excluding from a social relationship or social interaction

• Rejection by peers

• Social incompatibility

Social Rejection and Bullying

What causes social rejection?

• Cultural differences

• Emotionally immature

• Manners/common courtesies missing

• Unpopular

• Shy

• Low emotional intelligence

Social Rejection and Bullying

What are the implications of social rejection?

• 3 types of unpopular children (Berger, 2009)

1. Neglected – ignored but not shunned

2. Aggressive rejected – disliked because antagonistic or confrontational

3. Withdrawn – timid, shy, anxious

Social Rejection and Bullying

• Bullying – repeated, systematic attacks intended to harm those who are unable or unlikely to defend themselves.

• 3 types of bullying:

1. Physical

2. Verbal

3. Relational

Social Rejection and Bullying

Why do students bully?

1. To gain power2. To get attention or become popular3. To get material things4. To act out problems at home5. To copy another person they admire

Social Rejection and BullyingWho are the bullies?1. A person who doesn’t care if bad things happen to other people.2. A person who doesn’t feel bad when they hurt others.3. A person who likes to be in charge and always gets their way.4. A person who believes others deserve to get bullied.5. A person who is bullied at home by their parents, brothers or sisters.

Social Rejection and Bullying

Underlying traits of victims:1. Social cognition – inability to understand

human interactions, cause of rejection, developed by middle school

2. Psychological – shy, sensitive, anxious, insecure, low self-esteem, lack of social skills

3. Physical – overweight, small, having a disability, racial

Social Rejection and Bullying

Who becomes a victim of bullying?

1. Students who are smaller.2. Students who don’t have that many friends.3. Students who don’t stick up for themselves or get help from an adult.4. Students who are perceived to be an ‘easy target’ therefore bullies believe they can get away with it.

Social Rejection and Bullying

Effects on victims:

1. Feel scared, alone and sad2. Don’t like school3. Don’t feel good about themselves4. Get headaches and stomachaches

Social Rejection and Bullying

Consider if social rejection and bullying are connected? If so, how?

• Boys – physical force and intimidation

• Girls – verbal and social alienation

• Mental effects

Social Rejection and Bullying

Compare/contrast psycho-social characteristics of bullies and victims. Do these descriptions describe a bully, a victim, or both?

• Social costs such as impaired social understanding and relationship difficulties

• Home-life – families create an insecure attachment, stressful home-life, ineffective at discipline, hostile siblings

Social Rejection and Bullying

Helping bullies and victims:

• Development of effortful control (Berger, 2009)

• Culture change in schools to address – survey, train, be proactive

• Teach - ignore, no retaliating, defusing, or avoiding bullying

• Development of friendships

Social Rejection and Bullying

Helping bullies and victims continued:• Avoid being bullied: posture, eye contact,

avoid isolated places, don’t be alone• Help others• Speak out• Ignore it initially• Get adult help if it continues• Building self-esteem

Social Rejection and Bullying

• Personal experiences on this topic.

• Field trip: http://www.opheliaproject.org/main/index.htm

Social Rejection and Bullying

Social Rejection and Bullying

• Discussion - Questions