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27 Affiliate 1 (2001-2002)

handle is hein.journals/aff27 and id is 1 raw text is: American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division 750 North Lake Shore Drive Chio, IL 60611-4497 ISSN: 0360-5485 /M A Publication of the Young Lawyers Division Affiliate Outreach Project * Volume 27 Number 1 * September/October 2001 * http://www.abanet.org/yld The Problem of Bullying By Heather D. Dawson ullying is a part of everyday life. While it is present in the workplace, home, gym and on the sports field, school is the most common place where chil- dren learn bullying behaviors. We all have memories involving a childhood bullying incident that involved either ourselves or some- one we knew at school. In fact, a recent survey of 200 adults found that all of them could recall a bul- lying situation and 190 of them could recall the names of the indi- viduals involved in the situation. However, most of us do not realize the significant impact this child- hood behavior has on children or what we can do to help. Unfortunately, some children learn how to dominate others by foul means instead of by fair play. Sadly, children begin to enjoy doing so, setting a pattern for how they will behave as adults. Meanwhile, other children who are more easily dominated suffer miserably, often in silence, and develop a victim mentality that they may be unable to shake off into adult- hood. This article iden- tifies the problem of childhood bullying and the effects of bullying on children and will encourage you to help work toward a solution. The Problem Recent research in the United States and abroad documents that bullying is a common and potentially dam- aging form of violence among chil- dren. For example: In the United States, studies show that approximately 20 percent of students report having been bullied and that most bullying behaviors occurred in places with little adult supervision such as play- grounds and hallways. A recent study by the National Association of School Psychologists found that 160,000 students miss school each day in order to avoid the discomfort caused by bullying behaviors. • The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development recently report- ed that in a majority of schools in the United States: -One-third of the students are involved in bullying behaviors; -11 percent of all children are being bullied; -13 percent of all children report being bullies; -Boys are more likely to be bullies or victims of bullying; -Girls are more likely to be victims of malicious rumors or sexual harassment; and -36 percent of younger children are comfortable reporting or sharing information about bullying behaviors, but that number decreases to approxi- mately 5 percent as these children become older. If these facts alone do not seem alarming, then consider them in conjunction with a recent report by the National Threat Assessment Center. This report reveals that in over two-thirds of the thirty-seven public school shootings that have occurred in the United States since 1974, the attack- ers reported that they felt persecuted, bullied or threat- ened. Even more alarming is the fact that 50 percent of those attackers reported revenge as the motivation for their behavior. Given the prevalence and severity of bullying behaviors among children, it is dangerous for adults to assume that bullying behaviors make tougher children or teach them to solve their own problems. Thus, it is important to understand what bullying is, its effects on children and how we can work together as young lawyers to help pro- vide a solution to the problem. What Is Bullying? Bullying occurs when a child continuously does or says things in order to gain power over another person. Such behaviors include simple name-calling, exclusion from peer groups or threatening or physically harming another child. A child is a victim of bullying when he or she is repeatedly exposed to intentional injury or discomfort inflicted by one or more peers. In short, bullying implies an imbalance in power or strength in which children victimize other children. Children who bully other children intend the outcome of their actions. Bullying behavior can be characterized as follows: * a desire to hurt + hurtful action + imbalance of power + repeti- tion (typically) and . an unjust use of power + evi- dent enjoyment by the aggres- sor + a sense of being oppressed on the part of the victim. In contrast, children who tease other children usually do not intend harmful outcomes or are not aware that they are creating a hostile envi- ronment for the target of the teas- ing. Often, these children will stop the teasing behavior when they learn the effects of their behavior on the target's feelings. Why Do Children Bully? Children engage in bullying behav- ior because they may see it as a way to become more popular with others or to be perceived as tough and in charge. Other children may bully to get attention or because they are jealous of the child they are bully- ing. Children may also leam bully- ing behaviors from their family, culture or lack of role models to teach them rules and appropriate expectations. Why Are Children Bullied? While some children are bullied for no particular reason, children are usually bullied because they are perceived to be different--whether it be the color of their skin, the way they talk, their size or their name. Bullying victims tend to be more anxious and insecure than other students and commonly react by crying, withdrawing or avoiding attacks. The Long-Term Effects of Bullying Studies of bullying suggest that there are short- and long- term consequences for the perpetrators and victims of bul- lying. Not only does bullying harm both its intended vic- tims and the perpetrators, it also may affect the climate of schools and, indirectly, the ability of all students to learn to the best of their abilities. Children who engage in bullying behaviors during their school years may take part in criminal or other aggressive behaviors in their adolescent and adult years. They are likely to develop an attitude that power and aggression are appropriate means to achieve attention and status. Children who are victims of bullying report feelings of vengefulness, anger and self-pity after a bullying incident. Left untreated, these effects may develop into depression or physical illness. In extreme cases, cornered victims fight back with firepower, killing their tormentors or commit- ting suicide. Students who are chronic victims of bullying experience more physical and psychological problems than their peers who are not harassed by other children. In addition, bullying victims may develop an attitude that only those in power can make, break or change the rules. Finally, bullying victims often have a skewed sense of continued on page 3 Nonprofit Org, U.S. Postage PAID American Bar Association 61025

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